;;!lUitlilU!ilUl!l!ilillIIU!tilii: 


iiii  1: 


iiiiiiiii 


liiiiini: 


iilii  I 


;!   Hill 


Hilllilii; 


1^: 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2007  witii  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


littp://www.arcli  ive.org/details/felixlioltradicalOOelioiala 


HANDY     1/ O  L  U  M  E     EDITION 


FELIX  HOLT 


THE    RADICAL 


"By 

GEORGE  ELIOT 


w, 


BOSTON 

DANA     est:-  r  C)  M  f  A  \  > 

PUBLISHERS 


GEORGE  ELIOT  TO  HER  DEAR  HUSBAND. 

THIS   THIRTEENTH    YEAR   OF   THEIR   UNITED    LIFE, 

IN    WHICH   DEEPENING   SENSE  OF   HER   OWN    IMPEKFECTNESS 

HAS   THE  CONSOLATION   OF  THEIR 

DEEPENING   LOVB. 


ILLUSTRATI0X8. 


Enghavki)  i;y  (jkdkge  T.  Am)1!kw. 


)rti;ait  of   Kstiikh   Lvon.     .     .     Ftederic  Dielman      Frontis])iece 


Ki.ix    lloi.r  AM)  Job  Tidck  .  W.  II.  Shelton 


231 


i.i.ix   woiNDKi)  IX    riiK   liioT  .     .     Ilcuri/  Smul/iam  . 


334 


riii;u   l.'iox  AM)  1 1  AKoi.i)  Til  \x- 

soMH F.  i'luhle  Ihitimm 


.     410 


FELIX    HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 


TOL.  in. 


FELIX  HOLT,  THE  RADICAL. 


IKTRODUCTION. 

FiTE-AXD-TiiTKTY  ycai's  a;:^o  the  glory  had  not  yet  departed 
from  the  old  coach-roads  :  tlie  great  roadside  inns  were  still 
brilliant  with  ^well-polished  tankards,  the  smiling  glances  of 
pretty  barmaids,  and  the  re])artees  of  ]()Cose  ostlers  ;  the  mail 
still  announced  itself  by  the  merry  notes  of  the  horn;  the 
hedge-cutter  or  the  rick-tliateher  miglit  still  know  the  exact 
hour  by  the  uni';uling  yet  otherwise  mi^teoric  apparition  of 
the  ])ea-green  Tallydio  or  th.e  yellow  lnde})endent ;  and  el- 
derly gentleuKMi  m  pony-chaises,  (luaileving  nervoiisly  to  make 
way  for  tlie  rolling  swinging  swiilness,  liael  not  ceased  to  re- 
mark that  times  were  hnely  changod  since  they  used  to  see 
the  iiack-liorses  and  hear  tlu^  tinkling  of  thidr  bells  on  this 
very  highway, 

In  those  days  there  were  pocket  boroughs,  a  Birmingham 
TinrepresiMited  in  rarlianicjit  and  conqiellcd  to  maki'  strong 
re})resentations  out  of  it,  unrepealed  corn-laws,  three-and-six- 
pennv  Irttiu-s.  ;i  brawny  and  mnny-brecding  pauperism,  and 
other  d(M);nf  ed  evils  ;  but  tluM'C  vrere  some  pleasant  tldngs  too, 
v^dnch  have  als')  dcjiarted.  ^S'o?!  o/iuii"  (jriiDd'nir  (ffus.  qua' 
fi///iin/iiis  I/'/lrf.  s:!ys  the  wise  goddess  :  you  have  not  tlie  best 
of  it  in  all  things.  ()  youngst<>rs  !  tlie  elderly  man  has  his  envia- 
ble memories,  and  net  liie  le;;st  of  them  is  ihe  memory  of  a 
long  journey  in  niid-siaing  or  aiituien  oii  the  outside  of  a  stage- 
coach. Posterity  may  l>e  sla-t.  li];e  ;i  l)ullet  tln'ough  a  tubi\ 
by  atmosjihei'ic  pi'e.-se.ve  freiu  AN'iuclicsier  to  N'eweastle:  tluit 
is  a  fnie  resub  to  have  amoirj;  uiir  lio|)(>s  ;  but  tiie  slow  old- 
fashioned  way  of  geLtii.g  fr(.au  cue  ciid  of  our  eountry  te)  the 


4  FELIX  HOLT,  THE  RADICAL. 

other  is  the  better  thing  to  liave  in  the  memory.  The  tube-jour- 
ney can  never  lend  much  to  picture  and  narrative  ;  it  is  as  barren 
as  an  exclamatory  0  !  Whereas  the  happy  outside  passenger 
seated  on  the  box  irom  tlie  dawn  to  the  gdoaming  gathered 
enough  stories  of  Euglisli  life,  enough  of  English  labors  in 
town  and  country,  enough  aspects  of  earth  and  sky,  to  make 
episodes  for  a  modern  Odysse} .  Suppose  only  that  his  Jour- 
ney took  liim  through  that  central  plain,  watered  at  one 
extremity  by  tlio  Avon,  at  the  other  by  the  Trent.  As  the 
morning  silvered  the  meadows  with  their  long  lines  of  bushy 
willows  marking  the  watercourses,  or  burnished  the  golden 
corn-ricks  clustered  n<.'ar  the  long  roofs  of  some  midland  home- 
stead, he  saw  tlie  full-uddered  cows  driven  from  their  pasture 
to  the  early  milking.  Pfrhaps  it  was  the  she])herd,  head- 
servant  of  the  farm,  avIio  drove  tlu/m,  his  sheep-dog  following 
with  a  heedless  unofticial  air  as  of  a  Ijeadle  in  undress.  The 
sheplierd  with  a  sLjw  and  slouching  walk,  timed  by  the  walk 
of  grazing  beasts,  moved  aside,  as  it  unwillingly,  throwing  out 
a  monosyllabic  hint  to  his  cattle  ;  his  glance,  accustomed  to 
rest  on  things  very  near  the  earth,  seemed  to  lift  itself  with 
difficulty  to  the  C(!a(dinian.  iNlail  or  stage  coach  for  him  be- 
longed to  that  mysterious  distant  system  of  things  called 
"  Gover'ment."'  which,  -wliatever  it  might  be,  was  no  business 
of  his,  any  more  tli;ni  the  most  outlying  iu_'bula  or  the  coal- 
sacks  of  the  soutlit'iii  hrmispliere  :  his  solar  system  was  the 
])arish  ;  the  mastfi's  trinper  and  the  casualties  of  lambing- 
time  were  his  i'(''_;-i(.ri  of  storms,  lie  cut  his  bread  and  bacon 
with  his  jKickft-kiiiic.  and  fVlt  no  l)itterness  except  in  the 
matter  of  pauifr  hiborers  ami  tlic  bad-luck  that  sent  co)itra- 
rious  seasons  and  tlie  shee])-rot.  Ife  and  his  cows  were  soon 
left  behind,  and  th';  homestead  too,  with  its  jiond  nvevhung  by 
fdder-trees.  il s  inifidy  kitcheu-gai'deii  and  cone-shaped  yew- 
tre(^  arbo!'.  ]!ut  eviyNvhere  tlie  bushy  hedgci'OAvs  wasted  the 
land  with  tlieir  strair  :l;ng  1-  ■■:!ify,  slii'ouded  the  grassy  linrders 
of  the  pastures  willi  eathiiicd  hazels,  and  tossed  their  long 
Ijlackbeny  branches  ni,  the  <'oi  iifuhhs.  I'erliajis  they  were 
white  willi  ?.!ay,  or  starred  with  jiah'  ]iiidv  dtiir-i-oses  ;  jverhaps 
tiie  ureldns  ^\■ere  already  irafting  amongst  them,  or  gathering 


FELIX  HOLT,  THE  RADICAL.  5 

the  plenteous  crabs.  Jt  was  worth  the  journey  only  to  see 
those  hedgerows,  tlie  liberal  homes  of  unmarketable  beauty  — 
of  the  iiurple-biossomed  ruby -berried  nightshade,  of  the  wild 
convolvulus  climbing  and  spreading  in  tendrilled  strength  till 
it  made  a  great  curtain  of  pale-green  hearts  and  white  trum- 
pets, of  the  many-tubed  lioiieysuc]<^le  which,  in  its  most  deli- 
cate fragrance,  hid  a  charm  more  subtle  and  penetrating  than 
beauty.  Even  if  it  were  winter  the  hedgerows  showed  their 
coral,  the  scarlet  haws,  tlie  deep-crimson  hips,  with  lingering 
brown  leaves  to  make  a  resting-place  for  the  jewels  of  the 
hoar-frost.  Such  hedgerows  were  often  as  tall  as  the  laborers' 
cottages  dotted  along  the  lanes,  or  clustered  into  a  small  ham- 
let, their  little  dingy  windows  telling,  like  thick-filmed  eyes, 
of  nothing  but  the  darkness  within.  The  passenger  on  the 
coach-box,  bowled  along  above  such  a  hamlet,  saw  chiefly  the 
roofs  of  it :  probably  turned  its  back  on  the  road,  and  seemed 
to  lie  away  from  everything  but  its  own  patch  of  earth  and 
sky,  away  from  the  parish  church  by  long  fields  and  green 
lanes,  away  from  all  intercourse  except  that  of  tramps.  If  its 
face  could  be  seen,  it  was  most  likely  dirty  ;  but  the  dirt  was 
Protestant  dirt,  and  the  big,  bold,  gin-breathing  tramps  were 
Protestant  tramps.  There  was  no  sign  of  superstition  near, 
no  crucifix  or  image  to  indicate  a  misguided  reverence  :  the 
inhabitants  were  probably  so  free  from  superstition  that  they 
were  in  much  less  awe  of  the  })arson  than  of  the  overseer.  Yet 
they  were  saved  from  the  excesses  of  Protestantism  by  not 
knowing  how  to  read,  and  by  the  absence  of  handlooms  and 
mines  to  be  tlie  pioneers  of  Dissent :  tliey  were  kept  safely  in 
the  via  meilla  of  indiffcu'ence,  and  could  have  registered  them- 
selves in  the  census  by  a  big  black  mark  as  members  of  the 
C'hurch  of  England. 

Ihit  tliere  were  trim  cheerful  villages  too,  with  a  neat  or 
handsome  ]iarsona.ge  and  gray  church  set  in  the  midst ;  there 
was  the  pleasant  tinkle  of  the  blafdcsmitlTs  anvil,  the  patient 
cart  horses  waitiuLT  at  his  door;  tlie  basket-maker  peeling  Ids 
willow  wands  in  the  sunshine  ;  the  wheelwright  puttin'_c  the 
last  touch  to  a  blue  cart  >vi1li  red  wheels:  lierf^  and  there  a 
cottage  witli  bright  transjiarciit  windows  siiowing  pots  full  of 


6  FELIX   HOLT,   THE  llADICAL. 

bloouiiug  balsams  or  geraniums,  and  little  gardens  in  front  all 
double  daisies  or  dark  wallflowers ;  at  the  well,  clean  and 
comely  women  carrying  yoked  buckets,  and  towards  the  free 
school  small  Britons  dawdling  on,  and  handling  their  marbles 
in  the  pockets  of  unpatched  corduroys  adorned  with  brass  but- 
tons. The  laud  around  was  rich  and  marly,  great  corn-stalks 
stood  in  the  rick-yards  —  for  the  rick-burners  had  not  found 
their  way  hither  ;  the  homesteads  were  those  of  rich  farmers 
who  paid  no  rent,  or  had  the  rare  advantage  of  a  lease,  and 
could  afford  to  keep  their  corn  till  prices  had  risen.  The 
coach  would  be  sure  to  overtake  some  of  them  on  their  way 
to  their  outlying  tields  or  to  the  market-town,  sitting  heavily 
on  their  weli-grouuied  horses,  or  weighing  down  one  side  of 
an  olive-green  gig.  They  probably  thouglit  (jf  the  coach  with 
some  contempt,  as  an  accommodation  for  people  who  had  not 
tlieir  own  gigs,  or  who,  wanting  to  travel  to  London  and  such 
distant  places,  belonged  to  the  trading  and  less  solid  part  of 
the  nation.  The  passenger  on  the  box  could  see  that  this  was 
tlie  district  of  protuberant  optimists,  sure  that  old  England 
was  the  best  of  all  possible  countries,  and  that  if  there  were 
any  facts  which  had  not  fallen  under  their  own  observation, 
they  were  i'acts  not  worth  observing  :  the  district  of  clean  little 
market-towns  withdut  mainifactures.  of  fat  livings,  an  aristo- 
cratic clergy,  and  low  poor-rates.  But  as  the  day  wore  on  tlie 
scene  woitld  cliange  •  the  land  would  begin  to  be  blackened 
with  coal-pits,  the  rattle  of  liamllooms  to  l)e  lieard  in  hamlets 
and  villages.  Ifire  were  pov.'crful  m(>n  walking  rpieerly  with 
knees  boit  outward  h-cna  srpiatting  in  the  mine,  going  home  to 
throw  tlicmselvt^s  <l<^wn  in  tlicir  blaelcened  flannel  and  sleep 
thrungh  the  daylight,  tln'U  rise  and  s]ifud  niucli  of  their  high 
wages  at  the  ale-house  with  their  fellows  oL'  the  lienetit  Club: 
here  tlie  pale  eager  faces  of  liandloom-wcavers,  men  and  wo- 
men, haggard  from  sitting  up  late  ;it  night  to  linisli  the  week's 
work,  hardly  begun  till  the  ^Vellnesday.  Everywlau'e  the  cot- 
tages and  the  small  children  avito  ilirty,  for  the  languid  mothers 
gave  their  strength  to  the  loom  ;  ])iiiu>  Dissenting  W(jmen,  per- 
lia]_>s,  who  took  lile  palieiitiy,  and  tl;oU'_;lil  that  salvation  de- 
pended chiefly  on  predestination,  and  not  at  all  on  cleanliness. 


FELIX  HOLT,  THE  RADICAL.  7 

The  gables  of  Dissenting  cliapels  now  made  a  visible  sign  of 
religion,  and  of  a  meeting-place  to  counterbalance  the  ale-house, 
even  in  the  hamlets ;  but  if  a  couple  of  old  termagants  were 
seen  tearing  each  other's  caps,  it  was  a  safe  conclusion  tliat, 
if  they  had  not  received  the  sacraments  of  the  Cluirch,  they  had 
not  at  least  given  in  to  schismatic  rites,  and  were  free  from 
the  errors  of  Voluntaryism.  The  breath  of  the  manufacturing 
town,  which  made  a  cloudy  day  and  a  red  gloom  by  night  on 
the  horizon,  diffused  itself  over  all  the  surrounding  country, 
lining  tlie  air  with  eager  unrest.  Here  was  a  population  not 
convinced  that  old  England  was  as  good  as  possible ;  here 
were  multitudinous  men  and  women  aware  tliat  their  religion 
was  not  exactly  the  religion  of  their  rulers,  who  might  there- 
fore be  bett(U"  than  they  were,  and  who,  if  better,  miglit  alter 
many  things  which  now  made  the  woidd  perhaps  more  painful 
than  it  need  be,  and  certainly  more  sinful.  Yet  there  were 
the  gray  steeples  too,  and  the  churchyai'ds,  with  their  grassy 
mounds  and  venerable  headstones,  sle(>ping  in  the  sunlight; 
there  were  broad  fields  and  homesteads,  and  line  old  woods 
covering  a  rising  ground,  or  strctcliing  far  l)v  the  roadside, 
allowing  only  pec^ps  at  the  park  and  mansion  which  they  shut 
in  from  the  working-day  world.  In  these  midland  districts 
the  traveller  passed  rapidly  from  one  })hase  of  English  life  to 
another:  after  looking  down  on  a  village  dingy  with  coal-dusts 
noisy  with  the  shaking  of  looms,  he  miglit  skirt  a  parish  all  of 
fields,  high  liedges,  and  deep-rutted  lanes;  after  the  coach  had 
rattled  over  the  })avement  of  a.  mauufactuiing  town,  the  S(/.eHe 
of  riots  and  trades-union  meetings,  it  would  faki'  him  in  an- 
other ten  ULinutes  into  a  rural  region,  where  the  neighl)orhood 
of  the  town  was  only  felt  in  the  advantages  of  a  near  market 
for  corn,  cheese,  and  hay,  and  where  men  with  a  considerable 
banking  account  were  aecustoni"(l  to  say  that  ^'they  never 
UKMldled  with  politics  then\selve.-..""  The  bus}-  scenes  of  the 
sliuttlt>  and  the  wheel,  of  the  roiiring  furnace,  of  the  shaft  and 
the  pulle\-,  seemed  to  nuiki-  but  ei'Dwdeil  nests  in  the  mii'<t  of 
the  large-spaced,  slow-moviu'.;' lil';  of  homesteads  and  f:ii'-away 
cottages  and  oak-sheltered  parks.  Lc.ioking  at  tho'  dwelliugs 
scattered  amongst  the  woody   Hats   and  the  ^tloughed  uplands, 


8  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

under  the  low  gray  sky  which  overhung  them  with  an  unchang- 
ing stiUuess  us  if  Time  itself  were  pausing,  it  was  easy  for  the 
traveller  to  conceive  that  town  and  country  had  no  pulse  in 
common,  exce]>t  where  the  handlooms  made  a  far-reaching 
straggling  fringe  about  the  great  centres  of  manufacture  ;  that 
till  the  agitation  about  the  Catholics  in  "29,  rural  Englishmen 
liad  hardly  known  more  of  Catholics  than  of  the  fossil  mam- 
mals ;  and  tli;it  their  notion  of  lieform  was  a  confused  combi- 
nation of  rick-burners,  trades-unions,  Nottingham  riots,  and  in 
general  whatever  required  the  calling  out  of  the  yeomanry. 
It  was  still  easier  to  see  that,  for  the  most  part,  they  resisted 
the  rotation  of  crops  and  stood  by  their  fallows :  and  the 
coachman  would  perhaps  tell  how  in  one  parish  an  innovating 
farmer,  who  talked  of  Sir  Humphry  liavy,  had  been  fairly 
driven  out  by  })opLilar  dislike,  as  if  he  h;i,d  been  a  confounded 
Radical ;  and  how,  the  parson  having  one  Sunday  preached 
from  the  words,  '•  Break  up  your  fallow-ground,''  the  people 
thought  he  had  made  the  text  out  of  his  own  head,  otherwise 
it  would  never  have  come  ••'so  pat "'  on  a  matter  of  business ; 
but  when  they  found  it  in  the  Bible  at  home,  some  said  it  was 
an  argument  for  fallows  (else  why  should  the  B)ible  mention 
fallows  ?),  but  a  few  of  the  weaker  sort  were  shaken,and  thought 
it  was  an  argument  that  fallows  should  be  done  away  with, 
else  the  Bible  would  have  said,  '•  Let  your  fallows  lie ; "  and 
the  next  morning  the  parson  had  a  stroke  of  apoplexy,  which, 
as  coincident  with  a  dis})ute  about  fallows,  so  set  the  parish 
;•  gainst  the  iiuKjvating  farmer  and  the  rotation  of  crops,  that  he 
could  stand  his  ground  no  hjuger,  and  transferred  his  lease. 

The  coachman  was  an  excellent  travelling  companion  and 
commentat(n'  un  the  landscape  :  he  could  tell  the  names  of  sites 
and  persons,  and  explain  the  meaning  of  gi-ou})S,  as  well  as  the 
shade  of  Virgil  in  a  moi'e  nii'inorable  journey;  he  had  as  many 
stories  about  })arishes,  and  tlie  inen  and  women  in  them,  as 
the  Wanderer  in  the  '■' Exeui'sion,""  only  his  style  vras  dilferent. 
His  view  oi'  life  had  oi'i;^inally  been  cr'Miial.  and  siieii  as  became 
a  m;ui  who  was  wcil  waiaiu'd  witliin  and  without,  and  held  a 
position  of  easy,  uudi-outei!  auHp'iity,  but  the  recent  initia- 
tion of  Rail  way  .s  had.  mibil  ti-i-'"l  Inin  ;  ln'  now,  as  in  a  j;erpetual 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE  KADICAL.  9 

vision,  saw  the  ruined  country  strewn  with  shattered  limbs,  and 
regarded  Mr.  lluskisson's  death  as  a  proof  of  God's  anger 
against  Steplienson.  "Wliy,  every  inn  on  the  road  would  be 
shut  up  ! "  and  at  that  word  the  coachman  looked  before  him 
with  the  blank  gaze  of  one  who  had  driven  his  coach  to  the 
outermost  edge  of  the  universe,  and  saw  his  leaders  plunging 
into  the  abyss.  Still  he  would  soon  relapse  from  the  high 
prophetic  strain  to  the  familiar  one  of  narrative.  He  knew 
whose  the  land  was  wherever  he  drove  ;  what  noblemen  had 
half-ruined  themselves  by  gambling ;  who  made  handsome 
returns  of  rent ;  and  who  Avas  at  daggers-drawn  with  his  eldest 
son.  He  perhaps  remembered  the  fathers  of  actual  baronets, 
and  knew  stories  of  their  extravagant  or  stingy  housekeeping; 
whom  they  had  married,  whom  they  had  horsewhipped,  whether 
they  were  particular  about  preserving  their  game,  and  whether 
they  had  had  much  to  do  with  canal  companies.  About  any 
actual  landed  proprietor  he  could  also  tell  whether  he  was  a 
Reformer  or  an  Anti-Keformer.  That  was  a  distinction  which 
had  ••'  turned  up  "  in  latter  times,  and  along  with  it  the  i)aradox, 
very  puzzling  to  the  coachman's  mind,  that  there  were  men  of 
old  family  and  largo  estate  who  voted  fcjr  the  l-^ill.  He  did 
not  grapple  with  the  paradox ;  he  let  it  [)ass,  with  all  the  dis- 
creetness of  an  experienced  theologian  or  learned  scholiast,  pre- 
ferring to  point  his  whip  at  some  object  which  could  raise  no 
questions. 

No  such  paradox  troubled  our  coachman  when,  leaving  the 
town  of  Trel)y  ^fagna  behind  him,  he  drove  between  the  hedges 
for  a  mile  or  so,  crossed  tlie  queer  long  bridge  over  the  river 
Lajip.  and  then  put  his  horses  to  a  swift  gallop  up  tlie  hill 
by  tliC  low-nestled  village  of  Little  Treby,  till  they  v/ere  oil 
the  fine  level  road,  skirted  on  one  side  by  grand  larelics, 
oaks,  and  wych  elms,  wliich  sometimes  opened  so  iV.r  as  to  let 
the  traveller  see  that  there  was  a  park  behind  tliem. 

How  many  times  \u  the  ye;ir.  as  tiie  coacli  rolled  past  the 
neglected-looking  lodges  which  intiTvuptcd  tlit-  screen  of  trees, 
and  showed  the  river  winding  throu  ;h  a  tinely-tiiiibi/Tcil  nark, 
had  the  coachman  ans\ve;-eil  tlie  san)e  ouesl 'on.s,  or  ttdd  the 
same  things  without  beins'-  (lueslidued  !     That  ?  —  (h,,  thatwa,-; 


10  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  KADICAL. 

Transome  Court,  a  place  there  had  been  a  line  sight  of  lawsuits 
about.  Generations  back,  tlie  heir  of  the  Transome  name  had 
somehow  bargained  away  the  estate,  and  it  fell  to  the  Durfeys, 
very  distant  connections,  who  only  called  themselves  Tran- 
somes  because  they  had  got  the  estate,  l^ufc  the  Durfeys'  claim 
had  been  disputed  over  and  over  again;  and  the  coachman,  if 
he  had  been  asked,  would  nave  said,  though  he  might  liave 
to  fall  down  dead  the  next  minute,  that  })roperty  did  n't  always 
get  into  the  right  liands.  However,  the  lawyers  had  found 
their  luck  m  it ;  and  people  who  inherited  estates  that  were 
lawed  about  often  lived  in  them  as  poorly  as  a  mouse  in  a  hol- 
low cheese  ;  and.  by  what  he  could  make  out,  that  had  been 
the  way  with  these  ]vresent  Duri'eys,  or  Transojnes,  as  they 
called  themselves.  As  for  jNIr.  Transome.  he  was  as  poor,  half- 
witted a  fellow  as  you'd  wish  to  see  ;  but  sl/e  was  master,  had 
come  of  a  high  family,  and  had  a  s}>irit  —  yon  might  see  it  in 
her  e^'c  and  the  way  slie  sat  lier  horse.  Forty  years  ago,  when 
she  came  into  this  country,  they  said  slie  was  a  ])i('tur' ;  but 
her  family  was  poor,  and  so  she  took  u})  with  a  hatchet-faced 
fellow  like  this  Transome.  And  the  eldest  son  had  been  just 
such  another  as  his  father,  only  worse  —  a  wild  sort  of  half- 
natural,  wlio  got  into  bad  company.  'Vlwy  said  his  mother 
hated  liim  and  wished  him  dead;  i'or  slie  M  got  aiiotlier  son, 
cpiite  of  a  diiferent  cat,  avIio  had  gone  to  foreign  parts  when  he 
was  a  youngster,  nnd  she  Avanted  licr  favcuate  to  be  lieir.  But 
heir  or  no  IvAv,  Lawyer  Jermyn  had  laul  I/is  ]nekiiig  out  of  the 
estate.  Not  a  door  in  Isis  big  house  but  what  was  tlie  iinest 
])olished  oak,  all  got  off  th(^  Ti'ansome  estate.  If  anybody 
lik<Ml  to  believe  he  paid  for  it.  they  were  w(dcome.  Ilowever, 
Lawyer  Jermyn  had  sat  on  that  Ijox-scat  man}'  and  many  a 
time.  He  had  made  the  wills  of  most  peojile  thereabout.  Tha 
coachman  would  not  say  tliat  Tjawver  Jermvn  was  not  the  man 
he  would  choose  to  make  his  own  will  some  d'.iy.  It  was  not 
so  well  for  a  lawyer  to  be  overdionest,  elsi^  he  nii;.':ht  not  be  up 
to  otluM'  peoi)l(''s  trii-,ks.  And  as  fi)r  the  Transonic  business, 
there  had  been  ins  a,n(l  outs  in  time  gone  hx,  so  that  you 
could  n't  look  into  it  stvajght  backward.  At  this  ^\v.  Sampson 
(everybody  in  Xortli  Loaiiishirc  knew  Sampson's  coach)  would 


FELIX  HOLT,  THE  RADICAL.         11 

scre\r  Ws  feat\ires  into  a  grimace  expressive  of  entire  neutrality, 
and  appear  to  aim  his  whip  at  a  particular  spot  on  the  horse's 
ilank.  If  the  passenger  was  curious  for  further  knowledge 
concerning  the  Transome  affairs,  Sampson  would  shake  his  head 
and  say  there  had  been  hue  stories  in  his  time  ;  but  he  never 
condescended  to  state  what  tlie  stories  were.  Sonu^  attributed 
this  reticence  to  a  wise  incredulity,  others  to  a  want  of  memory, 
others  to  simj)le  ignorance.  l>ut  at  least  Sampson  was  right 
in  saying  that  there  had  been  fine  stories  —  meaning,  ironically, 
stories  not  altogether  creditable  to  the  parties  concerned. 

And  such  stories  often  come  to  be  fine  in  a  sense  that  is 
not  ironical.  For  there  is  seldom  any  wrong-doing  which 
does  not  carry  along  with  it  some  downfall  of  blindly  climbing 
hopes,  some  hard  entail  of  suffering,  some  quickly  satiated 
desire  that  survives,  with  the  life  in  death  of  old  paralytic 
vice,  to  see  itself  cursed  by  its  woful  progeny — some  tragic 
mark  of  kinship  in  the  one  brief  life  to  the  far-stretching 
life  that  went  before,  and  to  the  life  that  is  to  come  after, 
Ruch  as  has  raised  the  pity  and  terror  of  men  ever  since 
they  began  to  discern  between  will  and  destiny.  ]>ut  these 
things  are  often  unknown  to  the  world;  for  there  is  much  pain 
that  is  quite  noiseless  ;  and  vibrations  that  make  human  ago- 
nies are  often  a  mere  whisper  in  the  roar  of  hurrying  exist- 
ence. There  are  glances  of  hatred  that  stab  and  raise  no  cry 
of  murder  ;  robberies  that  leave  man  or  woman  forever  beg- 
gared of  peace  and  joy,  yet  kept  secret  by  the  sufferer  —  com- 
mitted to  no  sound  except  that  of  low  moans  in  the  niglit,  seen 
in  no  writing  except  tliat  made  on  the  face  by  the  slow  months 
of  suppressed  anguish  and  early  morning  tears.  ]\lany  an  in- 
herited sorrow  that  has  marred  a  life  has  been  breathed  into 
no  human  ear. 

The  poets  have  told  us  of  a  dolorous  enchanted  forest  in  the 
underworld.  The  thorn-bushes  there,  and  tlie  tliick-barked 
stems,  have  human  histories  liidden  in  them  ;  tlie  power  of  un- 
uttered  cries  dwells  iii  the  passionless-seeming  branches,  and 
tlie  red  warm  blood  is  dai-kly  feediiig  the  (]uivering  nerves  of 
a  sleepless  memory  tliat  watches  through  all  dreams.  These 
tilings  are  a  parable. 


12  FELIX   HOLT,   THE  RADICAjL. 


CHAPTER  L 

He  left  me  when  the  duwn  upon  his  lip 

Lay  like  tlie  >h;uiow  of  a  hovering  kiss. 

"Beautiful  umthi-r,  uu  uot  j,a'ieve,"  he  said; 

"I  will  be  ;:ri';it,  ;uid  build  our  fortunes  high, 

And  ytiu  shall  wear  the  longest  train  at  court, 

And  look  SM  ([ueenly,  all  the  lords  shall  say, 

'  Siie  is  a  royal  eliangeling  :  there 's  some  crown 

Lacks  the  right  head,  since  hers  wears  nought  but  braids,''"' 

Oh,  he  is  coming  now  —  but  I  am  gray  • 

And  he  — 

On  the  1st  of  September,  in  the  memorable  year  1832.  some 
one  was  expected  at  Transome  Court.  As  early  as  two  o'cloclc 
in  the  afternoon  the  aged  lodge-keeper  had  opened  the  heavy 
gate,  green  as  the  tree  trunks  were  green  with  nature's  powdery 
jiaint,  deposited  year  after  year.  Already  in  the  village  of 
Little  Treby,  which  lay  on  the  side  of  a  steep  hill  not  far  off 
the  lodge  gates,  the  elder  matrons  sat  in  their  best  gowns  at 
the  few  cottage  doors  bordering  the  road,  that  they  miglit  be 
ready  to  get  up  and  make  their  curtsy  when  a  travelling  car- 
riage sliould  come  in  sight;  and  beyond  the  village  several 
siii;dl  boys  were  stationed  on  the  lookout,  intending  to  run  a 
race  to  tin'  Ixirn-like  old  church,  where  the  sexton  waited  in  tlio 
bi'li'ry  n-ady  to  set  tlie  one  bell  in  joyful  agitation  just  at  the 
right  moment. 

The  old  lodge-keeper  had  opened  the  gate  and  left  it  in 
the  charge  of  his  Lnne  wife,  because  ho  was  wanted  at  the 
Court  to  sv.'oci)  ;iv,-ay  the  leaves,  ar^d  perhaps  to  help  in  the 
stablfs.  Fnr  though  Transome  Court  was  a  large  mansion, 
built  in  the  fashion  of  Ouoi>n  Anne's  time,  witli  a  park  and 
grounds  as  fiiic  as  any  t')  1)e  seen  in  Loamshire.  there  were 
v.'ry  few  Servants  about  it.  Especially,  it  seemed,  tliere  must 
be  a  lack  of  gariL'ners  ;  fi'V.  exc(^])t  on  the  terrace  surrouiided 
with  a  stone  parapet  in  fi'ont  of  the  house,  wliere  there  was  a 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  13 

parterre  kept  v.itli  some  neatness,  grass  had  spread  itself  ovei 
the  gravel  walks,  and  over  all  the  low  mounds  once  carefully 
cut  as  black  beds  for  the  shrubs  and  larger  plants.  Many  of 
the  windows  had  the  shutters  closed,  and  under  the  grand 
Scotch  fir  that  stooped  towards  one  corner,  the  browai  fir 
needles  of  many  years  lay  in  a  small  stone  balcony  in  front 
of  two  such  darkened  windows.  All  round,  both  near  and 
far,  there  were  grand  trees,  motionless  in  the  still  sunshine, 
and,  like  all  large  motionless  things,  seeming  to  add  to  the 
ftillness.  Here  and  there  a  leaf  fluttered  down  ;  };i'tals  fell 
in  a  silent  shower  ;  a  heavy  moth  floated  by,  and,  when  it 
settled,  seemed  to  fall  wearily  ;  the  tiny  birds  alighted  on  the 
walks,  and  hopped  about  in  perfect  tranquillity  ;  even  a  stray 
rabbit  sat  nibbling  a  leaf  that  was  to  its  liking,  in  the  middle 
of  a  grassy  space,  with  an  air  that  seemed  quite  impudent  in 
so  timid  a  creature.  No  sound  was  to  be  heard  louder  than 
a  sleejiy  hum.  and  the  soft  monotony  of  running  water  hurry- 
ing on  to  the  river  that  divided  the  park.  Standing  on  the 
south  or  east  side  of  the  house,  you  would  never  have  guessed 
that  an  arrival  was  expected. 

But  on  the  west  side,  where  the  carriage  entrance  was,  the 
gates  under  the  stone  archway  were  thrown  open  ;  and  so  w\as 
the  double  door  of  the  entrance-hall,  letting  in  the  warm  light 
un  the  scagliola  pillars,  tlx'  marble  statues,  and  the  broad 
stone  staircase,  with  its  matting  worn  into  lai'ge  holes.  And, 
stronger  sign  of  expectation  than  all,  from  one  of  tlie  doors 
wldch  surrounded  the  entrance-hall,  there  came  forth  from 
time  to  time  a  lady,  who  walked  lightly  over  the  polislied 
stone  floor,  and  stood  on  the  door-steps  and  Avatched  and  lis. 
tened.  She  Avalked  lightly,  for  her  figure  was  slim  and  fine!}' 
formed,  tliough  she  vras  between  fif'tv  and  sixty.  She  was 
a  tall,  proud-looking  woman,  with  abundaiit  gray  liair,  dark 
eyes  and  eyebrows,  and  a  somewhat  eagle-like  yet  not  unfemi- 
nine  face.  Her  tight-fitting  black  dress  was  much  witrn  ;  tli<- 
fine  lace  of  her  eulfs  and  collar,  and  of  l^ht^  small  veil  wjiich 
fell  backwards  over  her  high  coml),  was  visibly  mended  but 
rare  jewels  flashed  on  her  hands,  which  lay  cm  her  folded 
black  clad    arms  like   finely  cut  onyx  cameos. 


14  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

Many  times  'Mrs.  Transome  went  to  the  door-steps,  watcli- 
ing  and  listening  in  vain.  Each  time  she  returned  to  the 
same  room  :  it  was  a  moderate-sized  comi'ortable  room,  with 
low  ebony  bookshelves  round  it,  and  it  formed  an  anteroom 
to  a  large  library,  of  which  a  glimpse  could  be  seen  through 
an  open  doorwa}',  partly  obstructed  by  a  heavy  tapestry  cur- 
tain drawn  on  one  side.  There  was  a  great  deal  of  tarnished 
gilding  and  dinginess  on  the  walls  and  furniture  of  this  smaller 
room,  l)ut  the  pictures  above  the  bookcases  were  all  of  a  cheer- 
ful kind  :  portraits  in  pastel  of  pearly-skinned  ladies  Avith 
hair-powder,  blue  ribbons,  and  low  bodices  ;  a  splendid  por- 
trait in  oils  of  a  Transome  in  the  gorgeous  dress  of  the 
liestoration  ;  another  of  a  Transome  in  his  boyhood,  with  his 
hand  on  the  neck  of  a  small  I'ony ;  and  a  large  Flemish 
battle-piece,  where  Avar  seemed  only  a  picturesque  blue-and- 
red  accident  in  a  vast  sunny  expanse  of  plain  and  sky.  Prob- 
ably such  cheerful  pictures  had  been  chosen  because  this  was 
Mrs.  Transome's  usual  sitting-room  :  it  Avas  certainly  for  this 
reason  that,  near  the  chair  in  Avhich  she  seated  herself  each 
time  she  re-entered,  there  hung  a  picture  of  a  youthful  face 
Avhich  bore  a  strong  resemblance  to  her  own  :  a  beardless  but 
masculiue  face,  with  rich  broAvn  hair  hangiug  Ioav  on  the  fore- 
head, and  undulating  beside  each  cheek  down  to  the  loose 
Avhite  craA'at.  Xear  this  same  chair  Avere  her  Avriting-table, 
Avith  vclluin-cuverod  account-books  on  it,  the  cabinet  in  Avhich 
slie  kt'})t  her  nratly  arranged  drugs,  her  basket  for  her  em- 
biroidcry,  a  iblio  volume  of  architectural  engravings  from  Avhicli 
she  tdok  her  embroidery  patterns,  a  number  of  the  '•' Xortli 
Loamshirc  Herald,"  and  the  cushion  for  hev  fat  lUenheim, 
which  was  loo  old  and  sleejn*  to  notice  its  niistn^ss's  restless- 
ness. I'^or.  just  now,  ]\rrs.  Transome  could  not  abridge  tlie 
sunny  ti'dium  of  the  day  by  the  feeble  interest  of  her  -usual 
indoor  occupal  ions.  Her  consciousness  Avas  absorbed  by 
meiQories  and  pros])ects,  and  exce]»t  Avlien  she  Avallced  to  the 
('utrance-door  to  look  out.  she  sat  motionless  Avith  folded  arms, 
involuntai'ily  fi'om  time  t(j  time  turning  towards  the  portrait 
close  by  her,  and  as  often,  Avlien  its  young  brown  eyes  met 
hers,  turning  away  again   Avilh   self-checking  resolution. 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   KADICAL.  15 

At  last,  prompted  by  some  sudden  thought  or  by  some 
sound,  she  rose  and  went  hastily  beyond  the  tapestry  curtain 
into  the  library.  She  paused  near  the  door  withoat  speaking; 
apj^arently  she  only  wished  to  see  that  no  harm  was  being 
done.  A  maJi  nearer  seventy  than  sixty  was  in  the  act  of 
ranging  on  a  large  library-table  a  series  of  shallow  drawers, 
some  of  them  containing  dri(Hl  insects,  others  mineralogical 
specimens.  His  pale  mild  eyes,  receding  lower  jaw,  and  slight 
[rame,  could  never  have  expressed  much  vigor,  either  bodily  or 
mental  \  but  he  had  now  the  uneveuness  of  gait  and  feebleness 
of  gesture  which  tell  of  a  }Kist  })aralytic  seizure.  His  thread- 
bare clothes  Avere  thoroughly  brushed ;  his  soft  white  hair 
was  carefully  parted  and  arranged  :  he  Avas  not  a  neglected- 
looking  old  man  ;  and  at  his  side  a  fine  black  retriever,  also 
old,  sat  on  its  haunches,  and  watched  him  as  he  went  to  and 
fro.  But  when  ]\irs.  Transonic  appeared  Avithin  the  doorAvay, 
her  husband  paused  in  his  Avork  and  shrank  like  a  timid 
animal  looked  at  in  a  cage  Avhere  flight  is  impossible.  He 
Avas  conscious  of  a  troublesome  intention,  for  Avhich  he  had 
been  rebuked  before  —  that  of  disturbing  all  his  specimens 
AS'ith  a  view  to  a  ncAv  arrangenumt. 

After  an  interval,  in  Avhich  his  Avife  stood  perfectly  still, 
observing  him,  he  began  to  put  l)ack  the  drawers  in  their 
}ilaces  in  the  ro^\'  of  cabinets  Avhieh  extended  under  the  book- 
shelATS  at  one  end  of  the  library.  "When  t\\vj  aviu-c  all  put 
back  and  closed,  ]\rrs.  Transonic  turned  away,  and  the  fright- 
ened old  man  seated  himself  with  Ximrod  the  retriever  on  an 
ottoman.  ]'ee])iiig  at  him  again,  a  fcAv  minutes  after,  she  saAV 
that  he  had  his  arm  I'ouiid  Ximrod's  neck,  and  Avas  uttering 
his  thoughts  t<,)  the  dog  in  a  loud  Avhisper,  as  littl(>  children 
do  to  any  object  near  them  Avhen  they  believe  themselves 
unAvatched. 

At  last  the  sound  of  the  church-bell  reached  Mrs.  Transome's 
ear,  and  she  knew  that  before  long  the  sound  of  Avheels  must 
be  Avithin  hearing;  ])nt  slui  did  not  at  once  start  up  and  Avalk 
to  the  entraiKN'-door.  SIk^  sat  still,  (juivering  and  listening; 
her  lips  became  ])ale,  her  hands  Avere  cold  and  tri>nibliiig. 
Was  her  Son  really  couiing  ?     ^hc  Avas    lar  bejonU   luiyj  and 


16  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

since  her  early  gladness  in  this  best-loved  boy,  the  harvests  of 
her  life  had  been  scanty.  Could  it  be  that  now — when  her 
hair  was  gray,  when  sight  had  become  one  of  the  day 'a 
fatigues,  when  her  young  accomplishments  seemed  almost 
ludicrous,  like  the  tone  of  her  first  harpsichord  and  the  words 
of  the  songs  long  browned  with  age  —  she  was  going  to  reap 
an  assured  joy  ?  —  to  feel  that  the  doubtful  deeds  of  her  life 
were  justified  by  the  result,  since  a  kind  Providence  had  sanc- 
tioned them  ?  —  to  be  no  longer  tacitly  pitied  by  her  neighbors 
for  her  lack  of  money,  her  imbecile  husband,  her  graceless 
eldest-born,  and  the  loneliness  of  her  life  ;  but  to  have  at  her 
side  a  rich,  clever,  possibly  a  tender,  son  ?  Yes  ;  but  there 
were  the  fifteen  years  of  separation,  and  all  that  had  happened 
in  that  long  time  to  throAv  her  into  the  bnekground  in  her 
son's  memory  and  affection.  And  yet  —  did  not  men  some- 
times become  more  filial  in  their  feeling  when  experience  had 
mellowed  them,  and  they  had  themselves  become  fathers  ? 
Still,  if  ~Slvs.  Transonic  had  expected  only  her  son,  she  would 
have  trembled  less  ;  she  expected  a  little  grandson  also  :  and 
there  were  reasons  why  she  had  not  been  enraptured  when 
her  son  had  written  to  her  only  when  he  was  on  the  eve  of 
returning  that  he  already  had  an  heir  born  to  him. 

But  the  facts  must  be  accepted  as  they  stood,  and,  after  all, 
the  chief  thing  Avas  to  have  her  son  back  again.  Such  pride, 
such  aifeetioii,  such  hopes  as  she  cherished  in  this  fifty-sixth 
year  of  her  life,  must  find  their  gratification  in  him — or  no- 
where. Once  more  she  glanced  at  the  portrait.  The  young 
brown  eyes  seemed  to  dwell  on  her  pleasantly;  but,  turning 
from  it  with  a  sort  of  impatience,  and  saying  aloud,  "Of  course 
he  will  be  alt(M'ed  ! "  she  rose  almost  with  difliculty,  and 
walked  morr  slowly  than  before  across  the  hall  to  the 
ent]'anc('-di)or. 

Alr(>ady  the  S(^und  of  Avheels  was  loud  upon  the  gravel.  The 
mom'mtary  siw])ri>f'  of  seeing  that  it  was  only  a  post-chaise, 
witl'.out  a  servant  en-  laiich  luggage,  that  Avas  passing  under 
the  stone  arrliway  and  (hen  whoeline-  round  against  the  flight 
of  stone  steps,  w;is  at,  onm-  nier-'ed  in  tlie  sense  that  there  was 
a  (l.^rk  face  under  a  vvd  travelling-cap  looking  at  her  from  the 


FELIX   IIOI.T,   THE   RADICAL.  17 

window.  She  saw  nothing  else  ;  she  was  not  even  conscious 
that  the  small  group  of  her  own  servants  had  mustered,  or 
that  old  Hickes  the  butler  had  come  forward  to  open  the 
chaise-door.  She  heard  herself  called  "  Mother  !  "  and  felt  a 
light  kiss  on  each  cheek  ;  but  stronger  than  all  that  sensation 
was  the  consciousness  which  no  previous  thought  could  pre- 
pare her  for,  that  this  son  who  had  come  back  to  her  was  a 
stranger.  Three  minutes  before,  she  had  fancied  that,  in  spite 
of  all  changes  wrought  by  fifteen  years  of  separation,  she 
should  clasp  her  son  again  as  she  had  done  at  their  parting ; 
but  in  the  moment  when  their  eyes  met,  the  sense  of  strange- 
ness came  upon  her  like  a  terror.  It  was  not  hard  to  under- 
stand that  she  was  agitated,  and  the  son  led  her  across  the 
hall  to  the  sitting-room,  closing  the  door  behind  them.  Then 
he  turned  towards  her  and  said,  smiling  — 

"  You  would  not  have  known  me,  eh,  mother  ?  " 

It  was  perhaps  the  truth.  If  she  had  seen  him  in  a  crowd, 
she  might  have  looked  at  him  without  recognition  —  not, 
however,  without  startled  wonder;  for  though  the  likeness  to 
herself  was  no  longer  striking,  the  years  had  overlaid  it  with 
another  likeness  which  would  have  arrested  her.  Before  she 
answered  him,  his  eyes,  with  a  keen  restlessness,  as  unlike  as 
possible  to  the  lingering  gaze  of  the  portrait,  had  travelled 
quickly  over  the  room,  alighting  on  her  again  as  she  said  — 

"  Everything  is  changed,  Harold.  lam  an  old  woman,  you 
see." 

"  But  straighter  and  more  upright  than  some  of  the  young 
ones  ! "  said  Harold  ;  inwardly,  however,  feeling  that  age  had 
made  his  mother's  face  very  anxious  and  eager.  ''The  old 
women  at  Smyrna  are  like  sacks.  You  've  not  got  clumsy  and 
sha})eless.  How  is  it  I  have  the  trick  of  getting  fat  ?  "  (Here 
Harold  lifted  his  arm  and  s])read  out  his  plump  hand.)  "  I 
remember  my  father  was  as  thin  as  a  herring.  How  is  my 
father  ?     Where  is  he  ?  " 

Mrs.  Transome  just  pointed  to  the  curtained  doorway,  and 
let  her  son  pass  through  it  alone.  She  was  not  given  to  tears  ; 
but  now,  under  the  pressure  of  emotion  that  could  liTid  no 
other  vent,  they  burst  forth.     She  took  care  that  tliey  should 


18  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL 

be  silent  tears^  and  before  Harold  came  out  of  the  library 
again  they  were  dried.  Mrs.  Transome  had  not  the  feminine 
tendency  to  seek  influence  through  pathos ;  she  had  been  used 
to  rule  in  virtue  of  acknowledged  superiority.  The  conscious- 
ness that  she  had  to  make  her  son's  acquaintance,  and  that  her 
knowledge  of  the  youth  of  nineteen  might  help  her  little  in 
interpreting  the  man  of  thirty-four,  had  fallen  like  lead  on  her 
soul ;  but  in  this  new  acquaintance  of  theirs  she  cared  espe- 
cially that  her  son,  who  had  seen  a  strange  world,  should  feel 
that  he  was  come  home  to  a  mother  Avho  was  to  be  consulted 
on  all  things,  and  who  could  supply  his  lack  of  the  local  ex- 
perience necessar}-  to  an  English  landholder.  Her  part  in  life 
had  been  that  of  the  clever  sinner,  and  she  was  equipped  with 
the  views,  the  reasons,  and  the  habits  which  belonged  to  that 
character  :  life  would  have  little  meaning  for  her  if  she  were 
to  be  gently  thrust  aside  as  a  harmless  elderly  Avoman.  And 
besides,  there  were  secrets  which  her  son  must  never  know. 
So,  by  the  time  Harold  came  from  the  library  again,  the  traces 
of  tears  were  not  discernible,  except  to  a  very  careful  observer. 
And  he  did  not  observe  his  mother  carefully  ;  his  eyes  only 
glanced  at  her  on  their  way  to  the  "  Xorth  Loamshire  Herald," 
lying  on  the  table  near  her,  which  he  took  up  with  his  left 
hand,  as  he  said  — 

"  Gad  I  what  a  wreck  poor  father  is  !  Paralysis,  eh  ?  Ter- 
ribly shrunk  and  shaken  —  crawls  about  among  his  books  and 
beetles  as  usual,  though.  Well,  it's  a  slow  and  easy  death. 
But  he  's  not  much  over  sixty-five,  is  he  ?  "' 

'•'Sixty-seven,  counting  by  birthdays;  but  your  father  was 
born  old,  I  think,"  said  ]\Irs.  Transome,  a  little  flushed  with 
the  determinati(jn  not  to  show  any  unasked-for  feeling. 

Her  son  did  not  notice  her.  All  the  time  he  had  been 
speaking  his  eyes  had  been  running  down  the  columns  of  the 
newspaper. 

''But  your  little  boy,  Harold  — where  is  he  ?  How  is  it  he 
has  not  come  with  you  ?  '■ 

"  Oh,  I  left  him  behind,  in  town,"  said  Harold,  still  looking 
at  ''he  paper.  "My  man  Dominic  will  bring  him,  with  th^- 
..'•*'3t  of  the  luggage.     Ah,  I  see  it  is  young  Debarry,  and  not 


FELIX    [JOL'I',    1'HE    MADICAL.  19 

my  old  friend,  Sir  ^Maxnnus,  wiio  is  offering  liiinsclf  as 
candidate  for  Xortli  Loainsliire." 

"  Yes.  You  did  not  answt^r  nic  when  I  wrote  to  you  to  Lon- 
don about  your  stand  in, '_;•.  'I'lirre  is  no  other  Tory  candidate 
spoken  of,  and  you  v/ould  hiive  all  the  Debarry  interest." 

'•I  hardly  thiidc  that,"  said  Ilai'old,  significantly. 

*'  Why  ?  Jerniyn  says  a  Tory  candidate  can  never  be  got  in 
\V'itliout  it." 

"But  I  shall  not  be  a  Tory  cautlidate." 

]Mrs.  Transonie  felt  .soiuething  like  an  electric  shock. 

"What  then?"  she  said,  almost  sharply.  "You  will  not 
call  yourself  a  Wliig  ?  " 

"  God  for])id  !     1  'ni  a  Radical." 

Mrs.  Transonie's  limbs  tottered ;  she  sank  into  a  chair. 
Here  was  a  distinct  conlirmation  of  the  vague  but  strong 
feeling  that  her  son  was  a  sti-anger  to  lier.  Here  was  a  reve- 
lation to  which  it  seemed  almost  as  impossible  to  adjust  her 
Iioiies  and  n(iti(>!is  of  a  digriilied  life  as  if  her  son  had  said 
th;it  lie  had  l)i'i.'U  converted  to  ^Mahometanism  at  Smj-rna,  and 
had  four  wives,  iiistead  of  one  son,  shorth'  to  arrive  under  the 
care  of  Domirac.  For  the  moment  she  had  a  sickening  feeling 
that  it  was  all  of  no  use  that  tlie  long-d(dayed  good  fortune 
had  come  at  last  —  all  of  no  use  tliougli.  the  unloved  Durfey 
was  dead  and  bui-ied.  and  tJiough  Harold  had  come  home  witli 
})lenty  of  moniy.  There  v.'ere  rieii  L\adiea:s.  she  Avas  aware, 
as  there  were  rich  Jews  and  Dissenters,  but  she  had  never 
ihought  of  them  as  couniy  people.  Sir  Tj^aneis  I'urdett  had 
been  generally  vee.e.i'ded  ;is  a  madman.  It  was  beltei'  to  ask 
no  questions,  but  silently  to  pre})are  herself  for  anything  else 
tlicre  might  be  to  come. 

"Will  you  go  to  your  room-^.  Harold,  and  see  if  there  is 
anything  you   wouM  like  to  have  altered?" 

"Yes,  let  us  go,"'  sai'I  Ifirold,  tlirowing  dov.Ti  the  news- 
paper, in  wliicli  he  had  been  rapidly  reading  adnu^st  (n-ery 
advertisement  while  his  moth"r  luul  beeu  going  througii  Jier 
sharp  inward  sti'U'_;'gl(\  '•  Tiiele  Liugon  is  on  tht'  bK'iie'ii  still, 
T  see,"  he  went  du.  as  he  folle.ved  her  across  the  ]i;i  b  :  '-is  he 
at  iiome  —  will  lie  be  hi;re  tin.-,  evening  ?  " 


20  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"  He  says  you  innst  go  to  the  Kectory  when  you  want  to 
see  him.  You  must  remember  you  have  come  back  to  a  fam- 
ily who  have  olil-nishioned  notions.  Your  uncle  thought  I 
ought  to  have  \()U  to  myself  in  the  first  hour  or  two.  He 
remembered  that  I  had  not  seen  my  son  for  hfteen  years." 

"Ah,  by  Jove  I  fifteen  years  —  so  it  is  1 ''  said  Harold,  tak- 
ing his  mother's  hand  and  drawing  it  uihI':-)'  his  arm;  for  lie 
had  perceived  that  her  v/ords  were  chargr>d  v/itl;  an  intention. 
'•And  you  are  as  straight  as  an  arrow  still ;  you  will  carry  the 
shawls  I  have  Ijrougiit  you  as  v»vll  as  ever.'' 

They  walked  up  the  ijroad  stone  steiKS  together  in  silence. 
Under  the  shook  of  discovering  her  son's  Ivadicalism,  Mrs. 
Transoine  had  no  impulse  to  say  one  thing  rather  than  an- 
other; as  in  a  m;ai  \;ho  had  just  been  branded  on  the  forehead 
all  wonted  motives  would  bo  uprooit'd.  Har(jld,  on  his  side, 
had  no  wish  opposed  to  filial  kindness,  but  his  busy  thoughts 
were  imperiously  determined  by  habits  which  had  no  refer- 
ence to  any  woman's  feeling ;  a.nd  even  if  he  could  have  con- 
ceived what  his  mother's  feeling  was,  his  mind,  after  that 
momentary  arrest,  would  have  darted  forward  on  its  usual 
course. 

''I  have  givr^ii  you  the  south  rooms,  Harold,"  said  Mrs. 
Trai!~on;e,  as  they  passed  along  ;;  corridor  lit  fi'om  above,  and 
linf'd  with  old  family  pictures.  "  I  thought  tliey  would  suit 
you  i)est,  as  the}-  all  open  into  e^eji  otlier,  and  tiiis  middle  one 
will  make  a  ph'asant  sitting-room  lor  you." 

''Gad  !  the  furniture  is  in  a  bad  state,"  said  Hnrohl.  glanc- 
ing round  at  the  middle  rotan  whicli  they  had  just  entered; 
"the  moths  se'cm  to  have  got  into  the  carpets  nwd  liangings." 

"I  had  no  choice  exceot  nuitli.-  or  tennnts  who  would  pay 
rent,''  said  I'drs.  'J'l'ansome.  ■'■  ^Ve  have  been  too  })oor  to  keep 
servants  for  uninhi.bited  rooms."' 

"  ^Vhat  I  you  'v(.'  been  rathe'r  [linehed,  eh  ?  "' 

"You  find  us  living  as  we  have  been  living  these  twelve 
years." 

"Ah,  you've  liad  Dui'fey's  debts  as  well  as  the  lawsuits-^ 
eonf(.»und  them  I  It  will  make  a  h"lc  in  sixty  tIiou.-a:i'l  pounds 
to   pay   off    the    mortgages.     Howt-ver,   he's    gone    nov,',    ])uor 


FELIX   HOLT,    'I'lIE    RADICAL.  21 

fellow ;  and  I  suppose  I  .should  have  spent  more  in  haying  an 
English  estate  some  time  or  other,  1  always  meant  to  l^e  an 
Englishman,  and  thrash  a  lord  or  two  who  thrashed  me  at 
Eton." 

"  I  hardly  thought  you  eould  have  meant  that,  Harold,  when 
I  found  you  had  married  a  i'orcigu  wil'e." 

"Would  you  have  had  me  wait  for  a  consumptive  lackadai- 
sical Englishwoman,  who  would  have  hung  all  her  relations 
round  my  neck  ?  I  hate  English  wives  ;  they  want  to  give 
their  opinion  about  everything.  They  interfere  with  a  man's 
life.     I  shall  not  marry  again." 

Mrs.  Transome  hit  her  lip,  and  turned  away  to  draw  up  a 
blind.  She  would  not  reply  to  words  which  showed  how  com- 
pletely any  conception  of  herself  and  her  feelings  was  excluded 
from  her  son's  inward  world. 

As  she  turned  round  again  she  said,  '•  I  suppose  you  liave 
been  used  to  great  luxury  ;  these  rooms  look  miserable  to  you, 
but  you  can  soon  make  any  alteration  you  like." 

'■'Oh.  I  must  liave  a  private  sitting-room  fitted  up  for  myself 
down-stairs.  And  the  rest  are  bedrooms,  I  suppose,'"  he  went 
on,  opening  a  side-door.  '-Ah,  I  can  sleep  here  a  night  or  two. 
But  there  "s  a  bedroom  dcnvn-staii's.  witli  an  anteroom,  I  re- 
member, that  w(M;ld  do  for  my  man  Dominic  and  the  little 
boy.     I  shouM  like  to  havi;  that.'' 

"Your  father  lias  slept  tliere  for  years.  He  will  be  like  a 
distracted  insect,  and  nevrr  know  where  to  go,  if  you  alter  the 
track  he  has  to  walk  in." 

"That's  a  pity.     T  hate  going  up-stairs." 

"There  is  the  steward's  room  :  it  is  not  used,  and  might  be 
turned  into  a  bedroom.  I  can't  offer  you  my  room,  I'or  I  sleep 
up-stairs.''  (Mrs.  Transome's  ton^'uc  c(.)uld  be  a  whip  upon 
occasion,  but  the  lash  had  not  fallen  on  a  sensitive  S])ot.) 

"No;  I'm  determined  not  to  sleep  up-stairs.  We'll  see 
about  the  steward's  room  to-niorrow.  ami  I  dare  say  1  shall  find 
a  closet  of  some  sort  i'or  Dnminic.  It's  a  nuisaii'."'  lie  had 
to  stay  btdiind,  fur  T  sliall  liav^'  ncbody  to  cook  for  uir.  Ali, 
there's  tlie  old  river  [  ust'd  to  ii:d;  in.  I  often  tliouglii.  when 
I  was  at  Smyrna,  that  I.  would  buy  a  jjark  with  a  river  through 


2:i  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

it  as  much  like  the  Lapp  as  possible.     Gad,  what  fine  oaks 
those  are  opposite  I    Some  of  them  must  come  down,  though." 

"  I  've  held  every  tree  sacred  on  the  demesne,  as  I  told  you, 
Harold.  I  trusted  t(.)  your  gntting  the  estate  some  time,  and 
releasing  it ;  and  I  determined  to  keep  it  worth  releasing. 
A  park  without  fxiii-  timber  is  no  better  than  a  beauty  without 
teeth  and  hair." 

''  Ijravo,  mother ! "'  said  Harold,  putting  his  hand  on  her 
shoulder.  '-Ah,  you've  had  to  worry  yourself  about  things 
that  don't  properly  belong  to  a  Avoman  —  my  father  being 
weakly.  We  "11  set  all  that  right.  You  shall  have  nothing  to 
do  now  but  to  ])e  grandmamma  on  satin  cu.->hions.'"' 

"You  must  excuse  me  from  the  satin  cushions.  That  is  a 
part  of  the  old  woman's  duty  I  am  not  prepared  for.  I  am 
used  to  be  chief  bailiff,  and  to  sit  in  the  saddle  two  or  three 
hours  every  day.  There  are  two  farms  on  our  hands  besides 
the  Home  Farm." 

"Phew-cw  I  Jermyn  manages  the  estate  badly,  then.  That 
will  not  last  under  raij  reign."  said  Harold,  turning  on  his  heel 
and  feeling  in  his  pockets  for  the  keys  of  his  portmanteaus, 
which  had  been  brought  up. 

••'  Terhaps  when  you  've  been  in  England  a  little  loncrer," 
said  Mrs.  Tj'ansome,  coloring  as  if  .^he  had  beeii  a  giid,  "  you 
will  ui:de]stand  better  the  difliculty  there  is  in  letting  I'arms 
ui  tljese  ti'iiios."' 

"I  uudcr.'-taiid  tlie  difficulty  perfectly,  inother.  To  let  farms 
a  man  mu>t  \\:\\"  the  sense  to  see  wh;it  will  iiudce  tliem  invit- 
ing to  faniii'r-.  ;M;d  to  get  sense  sup|)lied  01:1  demand  is  just 
tlie  most  diflif'uit  transaction  T  know  of.  I  suppose  if  I  ]-in;^' 
there's  some  f.liow  who  can  act  a.^  valet  and  learn  to  attend 
to  mv  honkah  ?" 

'•Ther!'  is  Hifkes  the  bntlei-.  and  there  is  Jabez  the  foot- 
man ;  tluisc-  ar(;  all  tlie  nuri  m  th"  house.  They  were  lnjre 
when  you  hft." 

"Oh,  I  reiiKunber  .T;rii"Z — he  was  a  dolt.  I  "11  Imve  old 
Hickes.  He  was  a  n'.it  \\\\\--'  macliine  of  a  butler;  his  words 
used  to  come  likr-  th"  dicks  of  an  engine.  He  must  be  an  old 
UJuchine  noAv,  though." 


FELIX   Unur,   THE   RADICAL.  23 

"Vou  seem  to  remember  some  things  about  home  wonder- 
fully well,  Harold." 

"  Xever  forget  places  and  ])eople  —  how  they  look  and  what 
can  be  done  with  them.  All  the  countiy  round  here  lies  like 
a  map  in  my  brain.  A  deuced  pretty  counti'y  too  ;  but  the 
people  were  a  stupid  set  of  old  Whigs  and  Tories,  t  suppose 
they  are  much  as  they  were." 

'' I  am,  at  least,  Harold.  You  are  the  first  of  your  family 
that  ever  talked  of  being  a  liadical.  I  did  not  think  I  was 
taking  care  of  our  old  oaks  for  that.  I  always  thought  Kadi- 
cals'  houses  stood  staring  above  poor  sticks  of  young  trees  and 
iron  hurdles." 

"Yes,  but  the  Radical  sticks  are  growing,  mother,  and  half 
the  Tory  oaks  are  rotting,"  said  Harold,  with  gay  carelessness. 
'•  You  've  arranged  for  Jermyn  to  be  early  to-morrow  ?  " 

''  He  will  be  here  to  breaivfast  at  nine.  But  I  leave  you  to 
Hickes  now;  we  dine  in  an  hour." 

]\Irs.  Transome.  vrent  away  and  shut  herself  in  her  own 
dressing-room.  It  h;id  come  to  pass  now  —  this  meeting  with 
the  son  who  liad  been  the  object  of  so  much  longing ;  whom 
she  had  longed  for  be  tore  he  was  born,  for  whom  she  had 
sinned,  from  whom  she  had  wrenclied  herself  with  pain  at 
their  |)artiiig,  and  whose  coming  again  had  been  the  one  great 
hope  of  her  years.  The  moment  w;is  gone  by  ;  there  had  been 
no  ecstasy,  no  gladness  even;  hardly  half  an  hour  liad  })asse(l, 
and  fe\v  words  had  been  S])oken,  yet  with  that  quickness  in 
weaving  new  futures  which  belongs  to  women  wliose  actions 
have  kept  tliein  in  habitual  fear  of  consequences,  ]\Lrs.  Tran- 
some thought  she  saw  with  all  the  clearness  of  demonstration 
that  lier  son's  return  liad  not  been  a  good  iov  her  in  the  sensi^ 
of  making  her  any  happier. 

She  stood  before  a  tall  mirror,  going  close  to  it  and  looking 
at  her  face  with  hard  scrutiny,  as  if  it  were  nin-elated  to  her- 
self. No  ehhu'ly  face  can  be  luunlsome,  looked  at  in  that  way; 
every  little  di'tail  is  startlingly  iirninineiit,  and  the  effect  of  the 
whole  is  lost.  She  saw  the  diaed-up  com])lexion,  and  the  deep 
lines  of  bitter  discontent  about  the  mouth. 

*' I  am  a  hag  I  "  she  saul  to  herself  (she  was  accustomed  tu 


24  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

give  her  thoughts  a  very  sharp  outline),  "an  ugly  old  woman 
who  ha])peus  to  bo  his  mother.  Tliat  is  what  he  sees  in  me, 
as  I  see  a  strangf^'  in  him.  I  shall  count  for  nothing.  I  was 
foolish  to  expect  anything  else."' 

She  turned  away  from  the  mirror  and  walked  up  and  down 
her  room. 

''  What  a  likeness  I  "  she  said,  in  a  loud  whisper  ;  "yet,  per- 
haps, no  on<;  v>'ill  see  it  besides  me."' 

She  threw  herself  into  a  chaii',  and  sat  with  a  fixed  look,  see- 
ing nothing  tliat  was  ;ictually  present,  but  inwardly  seeing 
witli  painful  vividness  what  had  been  ])resent  with  her  a  little 
more  than  thirty  years  ago  —  the  little  round-limbed  creature 
that  had  lj(;«_'n  leaning  against  lier  knees,  and  stam};ing  tiny 
fecit,  and  lo(jking  up  at  her  with  gurgling  laugliter.  She  had 
thought  that  the  possession  of  this  child  would  give  unity  to 
lier  life,  and  make  some  gladness  through  the  changing  years 
that  would  grcjw  as  fruit  out  of  th(;se  early  maternal  caresses. 
Jhit  nothing  had  come  just  as  she  had  wished.  The  mother's 
early  raptures  had  lasted  Itut  a  sln^rt  time,  and  even  while  they 
lasted  there  had  grown  uj)  in  the  midst  of  them  a  hungry  de- 
sire, like  a  black  poisonous  pl;int  feeding  in  the  sunlight,  —  the 
d(;sire  that  her  first,  I'lckety.  ugly,  imbecile  child  should  die, 
and  leave  rouiu  for  her  darling,  of  whom  sla;  could  be  proud. 
Su(di  d'-sires  make  life  a  hideous  lottery,  where  every  day  may 
turn  up  a  bi.ink  ;  where  nu-u  ami  W(jnien  u  ho  have  the  softest 
id-yi.-i  and  the  most  didieate  eating,  vdio  have  a,  very  large  share 
(>r  that  s];y  ;ind  ('ai'tli  whi(;h  some  are  lu^i'ii  t(j  have  no  more  of 
t!i;in  the  I'racticjii  to  be  got  in  a  crowded  ei;try,  3'et  gi'ow  hag- 
gard, fevei-ed,  ;ind  restless,  lik(;  those  wlio  watch  in  other  lot- 
teri(;s.  J);iyarier  day,  year  after  yeai\  had  yiidded  blanks: 
new  cares  liad  conn',  l^rimnng  other  de-;ii-es  I'or  results  (piite 
beyond  her  '^i-is]).  which  must  also  Ix*  watehed  lor  in  the  lot- 
tery; and  all  tlui  while  the  round-limbed  ])et  had  been  gi'owing 
int(j  a  sti'ong  youth,  who  liked  many  things  1)ettei-  than  his 
mother's  caresses,  and  who  had  a  nnudi  keeiii'i-  consciousness 
()}'  his  indep(;ndent  existi-wec  ihan  of  liis  relation  to  her  :  the 
li/ard's  egg,  that  whitr.  roundiMl.  Dassive  iir<?ttiness.  had  Ijceome 
a  brown,  darting,  detcianined  lizard.      The  mcjther's  love   is  at 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  25 

first  an  absorbing  (l(^light,  blunting  all  other  sensibilities  ;  it  is 
an  expansion  of  the  animal  existence  :  it  enlarges  the  imagined 
range  for  self  to  move  m  ;  but  in  after  years  it  ean  only  con- 
tinue to  be  joy  on  tiie  same  terms  as  other  long-lived  love  — 
that  is,  by  nuich  suppression  of  self,  and  power  of  living  in 
the  experience  of  another.  Mrs.  Transonic  had  darkly  felt  the 
pressure  of  that  unchangeable  fact.  Yet  she  had  clung  to  the 
belief  that  someliow  the  possession  of  this  son  was  the  best 
thing  she  lived  for  ;  to  believe  (Otherwise  would  have  made  her 
memory  too  ghastly  a  companion.  Some  time  or  other,  by 
some  means,  the  estate  she  was  struggling  to  save  from  the 
grasp  of  the  law  would  be  Harold's.  Somehow  the  hated 
Durfey,  the  imbecile  eldest,  who  seemed  to  have  become  tena- 
cious of  a  despicable  scj^uandering  life,  would  be  got  rid  of; 
vice  might  kill  him.  jMeauwhile  the  estate  was  burthcued : 
there  was  no  good  prospect  for  any  heir.  Harold  must  go  and 
make  a.  career  for  himself  :  and  this  was  what  he  was  bent  on, 
with  a  precocious  clearness  of  perception  as  to  the  (conditions 
on  which  he  could  hope  for  any  advantage's  in  life.  Like  most 
energetic  natures,  he  had  a  strcnig  fait):  m  his  luclc :  he  had 
been  gay  at  their  p)arting,  and  had  }>r(miis('d  to  make  his  for- 
tune ;  and  in  spite  of  })ast  disa})}ioiutmenLS,  Harold's  possibli^ 
fortune  still  made  some  ground  for  his  motlier  to  ])lant  her 
hoj)es  in.  His  luck  had  not  failed  him  ;  yrt  notiiii;-;'  had 
turned  out  according  to  hei' exijectations.  Her  iiiV]i;ii!  hem 
like  a  spoiled  shabby  ])leasui'e-day,  in  wliicli  tlie  music  a!id  th(» 
processions  are  a.ll  missed,  and  nothing  is  left  at  evening  but, 
the  wearint'ss  of  striving  aft(>r  wiiat  has  b-eii  failed  of.  ilai'- 
old  had  gone  with  tlie  Embassy  to  C()n.stantino})le.  under  the 
patronage  of  a  lii^-li  ndative.  his  mother's  cousin  ;  lie  was  to  be 
a  diplomatist,  and  wcn-k  his  way  ujjv/ard  in  iir.blie  life,  lUit 
his  luck  had  taken  anotluM-  shape  :  he  liad  saved  the  life  oi'  an 
Armenian  banker,  who  in  ;:;-ra,titude  had  oifered  iiim  a  prospect 
which  his  practical  mind  had  preferrcMl  to  tlu'  iii'oblemat ie 
})romises  of  di-niomacy  and  lii'di-'^Drn  cousinsliip.  Harold  liad 
become  a  mercriant  ani]  banker  at  Smyrna  -  ha'l  let  tlie  years 
pass  without  (!anng  to  find  the  ],ossil)i!ity  ef  vi.-iti:!'4-  iiis  early 
home,   and  had    shown   no  eam'rness    to    make  liis   life  at  all 


26  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

familiar  to  his  mother,  asking  for  letters  about  England,  but 
writing  scantily  about  hinisolf.  Mrs.  Transoixie  had  kept  up 
the  habit  of  Avriting  to  her  son,  but  gi-a.lually  the  unfruitful 
years  had  dulled  her  hopes  and  yearnings  ;  incr(?asing  anxie- 
ties about  uKjuey  had  worried  her,  and  she  was  more  sure  of 
being  fretted  by  bad  news  about  her  dissolute  eldest  son  thau 
of  hearing  anything  to  cheer  her  from  Harold.  She  had  begun 
to  live  merely  iu  small  inimediato  cares  and  occupations,  and, 
likt;  all  eager-minded  women  vv'ho  advance  in  life  without  any 
activity  of  tenderness  or  an}^  large  sym[)athy,  she  had  con- 
tracted small  rigid  liabits  of  thinking  and  acting,  she  liad  her 
"  ways  ''  which  must  not  be  crossed,  and  had  learned  to  fill 
up  the  great  void  of  life  with  giving  small  orders  to  tenants, 
insisting  on  medicines  for  inlirin  cottagers,  vvdmiiug  small  tri- 
umj)lis  in  bargains  and  personal  economies,  and  parrying  ill- 
natured  reiuai'ks  of  Lady  Dcbarry's  by  lancet-edged  epigrams. 
So  h(u-  life  liad  gone  on  till  more  than  a  year  ago,  when  that 
desire  which  had  been  so  hungry  when  she  was  a  bloom- 
ing young  nrother,  was  at  last  fulfilled — at  last,  when  her 
hair  was  gray,  and  her  face  looked  bitter,  restless,  and  unen- 
joying,  like  her  life.  The  news  came  from  Jersey  that  Dur- 
tc_y,  the  imbecile  son,  was  dead.  Noiv  H;irold  was  heir  to  the 
estate  ;  wow  the  wealth  he  had  gained  could  release  the  land 
irom  its  burthens;  now  Ik;  would  think  it  v/ortli  while  to  re- 
turn honuj.  A  change  liad  at  last  come  civer  her  life,  and 
tlu^  sunlight  breaking  the  fdou;k^  at  even'i'.g  was  pUiasaut, 
tiiougli  the  sun  raust  sink  before  long.  llo]ies,  aifections,  the 
oweeter  part  of  her  memories,  started  from  tlieir  wintry  sleep, 
and  it  once  more  seemed  a  great  good  to  h;ive  had  a  second 
son  wiiu  ii;  some  ways  had  cost  her  ilearly.  I'-at,  again  there 
werci  conditions  sh(>  had  not  reckoned  on.  When  the  good 
tidings  had  lieeii  sent  to  Harold,  and  he  had  announced  that 
he  'A'ould  return  sr)  soon  as  h(;  could  vvind  u[)  his  uffairs,  he 
had  foi'  the  lirst  tini"  informed  liis  mother  that  lie  ha'l  i)een 
married,  tliat  his  (iri'ck  wib-  was  i,o  longer  iiviiig,  but  that  lie 
should  in'ing  home  ;l  Jlttii;  Ijoy,  t!,e  iiiie^t  aiid  uiost  desirable 
of  heirs  autl  grandsons.  liarold,  seiLted  in  his  distant  Smyrna 
home,  (;uijsidered  that  he,  was  takinL'-  a  rational  view  of  "'..'..a.. 


FELIX    HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  27 

things  must  have  beconio  hy  this  time  at  the  ohl  place  in  Eng- 
land, when  lie  iiguieil  liis  niollnT  as  a  good  elderly  hulvj  who 
A'ould  necessarily  l)e  deliL;!iled  with  the  possession  on  any 
terms  of  a  healthy  grandciliiltl.  and  would  not  mind  much  about 
the  ])articulars  (jf  the  loiig-coiieecilcd  marriage. 

IMrs.  Transonu;  luid  lorn  u})  tlii.t  letter  in  a  rage.  But  in 
the  months  v.'hich  had  elapsed  before  Harold  could  actually 
arrive,  she  had  prepared  hersidf  as  well  as  she  could  to  su].>- 
press  all  reproaches  or  (jueries  which  her  son  might  resent^ 
and  to  actpuesce  in  his  evident  wishes.  The  return  was  still 
looked  for  with  longing  ;  affection  and  satisfied  pride  would 
again  warm  her  later  }'ears.  She  was  ignorant  what  sort  of 
man  Harold  had  bccoiue  now,  and  of  course  he  must  be 
changed  in  many  ways  ;  but  tliough  she  told  herself  tliis,  still 
the  image  that  she  knew,  the  image  fondness  clung  to,  neces- 
sarily prevailed  over  the  Jiegatives  insisted  on  by  her  reason. 

And  so  it  Avas,  that  when  she  had  moved  to  the  door  to 
meet  him,  she  had  been  sure  tluit  she  should  clasp  her  son 
again,  and  feel  that  he  was  the  same  who  had  been  her  boy, 
l\er  little  one,  the  loved  child  of  her  passionate  youth.  An 
liour  seemed  to  liave  change'd  everything  for  her.  A  woman's 
hopes  are  woven  of  sunljeams ;  a  sluidow  annihilatrs  them. 
The  shadow  which  had  i'allen  t)Ver  ^Irs.  Transome  in  this  first 
interview  with  her  son  was  the  presentiment  of  her  pouau'less- 
ness.  If  things  went  wrong,  if  Harold  got  unpleasantly  dis- 
posed in  a  certain  dirv-ction  where  her  chief  dread  had  ahvivys 
la;n,  she  seemed  to  foresee  that  her  words  would  be  of  no 
avail.  Till'  keemiess  oi  lier  anxiety  in  this  niattm'  had  served 
a-s  insight;  and  Had'old's  rajadity.  decision,  and  inditference  to 
any  impressions  in  otlit  rs  which  did  not  Fnrlher  or  iin])ede  his 
own  pur|)()ses,  had  iriade  themsidves  Celt  by  her  as  nuieh  as  slu^ 
would  have  felt  the  unmanage;;ble  sti'engtli  of  a  great  bii'd 
which  had  alighted  near  her,  and  allowed  her  to  stroke  its 
wing  for  a  moment  becanse  lood  lay  niar  her. 

lender  the  cold  v.-eight  of  tlicsi'  tluaights  TvFvs.  Ti'ai^somo 
shivered.  That  physieed  reaction  i!)r.se(]  her  frcan  licr  reverie, 
aial  slie  could  now  he;ir  tlie  L^niie  Ixiiofking  at  the  ilooi-  to 
v;liich  <he  had  Ix'en  deaf  l)el'(.)re.     ^'otwithstamling  her  activity 


28  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

niid  the  fewness  of  her  servants,  she  had  never  dressed  herself 

without  aid  ;  iKjr  would  that  small,  neat,  exfjuisitely  clean  old 
woman  wlio  no^\'  })i'esented  herself  have  wisln-d  that  her  labor 
siiould  be  saved  lit  tlis,'  ('X[)"nse  of  such  a  sacriiice  on  her  lady's 
part.  Th(^  small  old  woman  was  ^Nlrs.  Hickes,  the  ])utler's 
wife,  wlio  aet^:d  as  ]i(;i!S"ki'epei',  lady's-maid,  and  su})erinten- 
deiit  of  the  ivitchen  — thi^  largi-  stony  scene  of  inconsiderabh' 
cooking.  Fort}'  ytars  ag  >  she  had  entered  ]\I]'s.  Transome's 
service,  wlhMi  tliat  lady  was  beautiful  ]Miss  Liiigon,  and  her 
juistress  still  called  her  Denner,  as  she  had  done  in  the  old 
days. 

" 'I'he  ii;  11  lias  rung,  then,  Deinier,  without  my  hearing  it?" 
said  -Mrs   I'rausome,  rising. 

"  Yes,  madam,"'  said  Denner,  reaching  from  a  wardrobe  an  old 
black  \-i'lvet  dress  trimmed  with  nmeh-m.ended  })oint,  in  which 
INIrs.  Trausome  was  wont  to  look  queenly  of  an  evening. 

Denner  liad  still  strong  eyes  of  that  shoi't-sighted  kind  whicli 
sees  through  the  narrowest  chink  between  tiie  eyelashes.  The 
pliysieal  (;oi)trast  Ijetween  tlie  tall,  eagle-faced,  dark-eyed  lady, 
and  the  little  peering  waiting-woman,  who  had  been  round- 
featured  and  of  })ale  mealy  complexion  from  her  youth  up.  had 
(L'jubtless  had  a  strong  iniluence  in  determining  Denncr's  fcel- 
iijg  towards  her  mistress,  Avhieli  was  of  that  woi'shipful  stjrt 
paid  t(j  a  goddess  in  ages  when  it  was  not  thought  necessary 
or  lik'.ly  that  a  goddess  shoidd  be  very  moral.  There  were 
diiVeiciit  orders  of  beings  —  so  ran  Denner's  creed  —  and  she 
Ijelonged  to  a.iioth('r  order  than  that  to  which  lier  misti'css  l)e- 
iongeil.  S;:(>  liad  a  mind  as  sliai'p  as  a  needle,  and  wouM  ha\'e 
see])  Ihroie^-li  and  thmugli  the  idddeuhjus  pi'et"nsions  of  a  l)oni 
sej'vaiil  A'.din  di:l  not  suliiiilssiv(d\'  accept  the  rigid  fate  whicdi 
had  gi\'(;n  liei'ljoi'n  sa j:erioi's.  She  v,-ould  have  called  such  pre- 
teiisifjiis  the  \vi-i'.;glings  of  a,  worm  that  tried  to  walk  on  its  tail. 
Then;  wa^ata/dt  iind,ei-st aiiding  that  Denner  knew  all  lier  niis- 
1ress"s  seeiTi;-'.  and  liei'  speech  v\'as  ]ilain  and  nn(ia['teri;!g  ;  yet 
Avilh  ■/.■oiideriul  siii)tl"ty  i>\'  in-tiiict  slie  never  s;dd  aaythin'^ 
wlii(di  .Mrs.  Tfan>ome  conld  I'cid  humilia.ted  by.  as  'ov  .'"'  !':e.iiilia!'- 
ii\-  !>eiii  ;•  '-'-rvMnt  who  knew  too  nnitdi.  Deinier  iip'r:''  "ed  her 
own  ';e:n;t'.-  ;;  itli  ihat  ^f  i;er  nd-'i'ess.     She  was  a  '^a^ ^,- headed 


VVAAX    ilOLT;    THE   JiADlCAL.  29 

^'oilk'.ss  little  woman,  but  with  a  character  to  be  reckoned  on 
as  you  rcL'kon  on  the  (j^ualities  of  iron. 

reoring  int(j  Mrs.  Ih'aiisonio's  i'acc,  she  saw  clearly  that  tlie 
meeting  with  the  sun  had  been  a  disappointment  in  sonu-  way. 
She  spoke  with  a  reiined  accent,  in  a  low,  quick,  monotonous 
lone  — 

''  Mr.  Harold  is  drest :  lie  shook  me  by  the  hand  in  the  cor- 
ridor, and  was  very  pleasant." 

'•^Vdiat  an  alteration,  Denner  I     Xo  likeness  to  me  now." 

"  Handsome,  thougli,  spite  of  his  l)eing  so  browned  and 
stout.  There's  a  iliie  ]n"esence  abcait  ]Mr.  Harold.  I  remem- 
ber you  used  to  say,  madam,  there  were  some  people  you  woidd 
always  know  Avere  in  tlie  rt)om  though  they  stood  round  a  cor- 
ner, and  others  you  might  never  see  till  }  ou  ran  against  them. 
That's  as  true  as  truth.  And  as  for  likenesses,  thirty-live  and 
sixty  are  not  much  alike,  only  to  people's  memories." 

iMrs.  Transoine  knew  perfectly  that  Denner  had  divined  her 
thoughts. 

"  L  don't  know  Innv  things  will  go  on  now;  but  it  seems 
something  io(j  good  U)  happen  that  they  will  go  on  well.  I 
am  afraid  of  ever  expecting  au\r.!nng  g(X)d  again." 

''That's  Weakness,  jnadam.  Tilings  don't  ha[tpen  because 
they  *re  bad  or  good,  (dse  all  t'ggs  would  be  addled  or  none  at 
all,  and  at  the  m(;si  it  is  but  six  to  the  dozen.  There's  good 
chaiKH's  and  bad  chaiun^s,  and  nobody's  luck  is  pulled  only  by 
one  string." 

"  "NMiat  a  woman  yoir  are,  Denner  !  You  talk  lik''  a  k'^rench 
in1id(d.  It  seem^;  lo  me  you  are  afraid  of  nolhing.  ]  have 
bi'cu  full  of  fears  all  my  life  —  always  so'eing  sojaethiiig  or 
other  hanging  over  me  tlait  I  could  n't  l)ear  to  iiap[i!'i!." 

"  Well,  ma.dam,  jiut  a.  good  lace  on  it.  and  doii'i  i\i'oin  to  be 
on  tilt!  lookout  ['or  crows,  else  you  dl  set  otlier  people  wateh- 
iiig.  Here  you  have  a  rich  son  come  home,  and  tlie  dfbts  will 
all  be  p'.iid,  iind  you  have  your  iieaUh  and  ca,n  ride  al)Out.  and 
you've  such  a  face  aarl  rigur''.  au>l  will  have  if  you  live  to  be 
e'.ghty,  tha.t  evi.'rybody  is  e;!o  in  liand  to  you  beforr  tiiev  know 
\'.Iio  you  are--l"t  me  i';i-trn  up  your  veil  a_  lii;]-  higher' 
tiiere  "s  a   good  deal   u!    pleasure   iu  life   for  you  yet." 


80  FELiX    HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"Nonsense !  there's  no  pleasure  for  old  women,  unless  tliej 

get  it  out  of  tormenting  other  people.     What  are  your  pleas- 
ures, Dcnner  —  L^esides  l)eing  a  slave  to  me  ?  " 

"Oh,  there's  pleasur-'  in  knowim^-  one's  not  a  fool,  like 
half  the  per-ple  ont^  sees  about.  And  nsanaging  one's  husband 
is  some  pleasure  :  and  d^'ing  all  one's  business  well.  AVhy,  if 
I 've  onh^  got  soni'.'  (a'ange  flowers  to  candy.  I  shouldn't  like 
to  die  till  I  see  th^'in  ;.ll  right.  Then  there  "s  tlie  sunshine 
now  and  then  ;  I  like  tJiat  as  the  cats  do.  I  look  upon  it,  life 
is  like  our  game  at  wliist,  Avhen  Bank.s  riUil  ]jis  v\dre  come  to 
the  still-rot'in  oi  ':.n  evening.  I  don't  ••e  Vi^^'  me  game  much, 
but  I  like  to  })lay  my  e.-u'ds  well,  and  see  wiiot  v\'ill  lie  the  end 
of  it  ;  and  I  want  to  srO  you  make  tlie  Ij  -.-t  of  j.'uur  hand, 
madam,  fv)r  your  iud-:  has  been  min  •  t'lese  forty  years  nou". 
But  1  nmst  go  and  see  liow  kitty  dishes  uj)  the  dinner,  unless 
you  have  a:iy  more  commands." 

'•  Xo.  I)<ain<.'r:  I  am  going  dou'n  immediat^dy." 
As  ]\rrs.  Transome  descended  the  .--tone  bi:drcase  in  her  old 
black  vi'ivot  and  point,  her  appea.rance  justitied  Dinner's 
personal  com]^)liment.  Slie  liad  tliat  IdglidMin  ino.])erious  air 
which  wouhl  have  marlvi'd  her  as  an  oljject  of  hatred  and 
reviling  by  a  revolutionary  mob.  Iler  pei'son  Avas  tO'>  lyjii^al 
of  S'^■•ial  di^tinct'nns  to  b-  jiassr-l  iy  \\dth  ii:ilil't'eae'riC('  by  any 
one:  it  Avouid  laive  iitted  an  cmpi-ess  in  h'^r  dwn  ri.li!.  'iNiiO 
hail  had  lu  I'ub'  in  spite  of  faction,  to  dar.'  tli.'  violadiiai  of 
treaties  and  dread  retributive  invasien^-.  to  gi'a-'ii  ai'ter  new 
territories,  to  I;e  deiiant  in  desjierat-  eirciim-,!  ene.-.s,  and  to 
feel  a  Avonnm's  ininger  oT  the  heart  torevei'  unsati,- ii'^di.  "\'et 
!Mrs.  Transonie's  cares  and  ocerqiations  liad  i'c-t  i)een  a.t  all  of 
an  imperial  sort.  For  Tnir'y  years  she  l;ail  ledi  tlie  monoto- 
nous narrowing  lib'  v,!i"p'h  used  to  be  tli'  lot  of  our  poorer 
gentiy  ;  Avho  ne\'er  Av^nt  to  tuwr,.  ;;n.l  wei-e  probably  md  on 
speaking  terms  with  1  wo  out  of  tne  live  [andlies  Avhose  parks 
lay  Avithin  the  di.dauec!  oT  a  ilrive.  W'lie-.,  ^'nr  was  youn;^-  slui 
had  been  thought  Av<aalerl  all  v  clever  aial  aeci  n:  j'li>la-d.  and 
laid  been  rather  ambiitiou.-  ^.i'  inO'beei  u.il  S'iOeriority  —  laid  se- 
cretly picki'd  .out  for  i.iae.iO-  reading  !!.•  l;-iiter  parts  of  ilan- 
gerous   French    authors  —  and    in   (•(aiioany    laid    been    able    to 


FELIX   nC;.T,   THE    HADTCAL  31 

talk  of  Mr.  l>iuk""s  style,  or  of  Chateaubriand's  eloquence  — 
]i;i:l  laughed  at  the  Lyrie.il  I'.al'ads  and  admired  ]\Ir.  Southey's 
Thalaba.  She  al\v;iys  tlioudit  thr.t  the  daugerous  French 
^vriters  were  wicked  and  t]i;it  Ihu-  readhig  of  them  was  a  sin; 
hut  many  sinful  things  were  highly  agree;ible  to  her,  and 
numy  tilings  which  she  diil  not  douot  to  be  good  and  true 
v.ere  dull  and  nh'iining'less.  She  found  ridicule  of  Biblical 
characters  very  amusing,  a.ud  she  was  interested  in  stories  of 
illicit  passion  :  but  she  believed  all  the  while  that  truth  and 
safety  lay  in  due  attendance  on  T)ray(  rs  and  sermons,  in  the 
admirr.'/ie  doctrines  and  ritual  of  tlu^  Church  of  England, 
eijualiy  r 'mote  from  Puritanism  and  Popery;  ir,  fact,  in  such 
a  view  of  this  w(/rld  and  the  next  as  would  preserve  the  exist- 
ing arrang-ements  of  Englisli  society  (piite  unshaken,  keeping 
down  the  obtrasiv(>ness  of  tb.e  vulgar  and  the  discontent  of 
thi^  poor.  The  histe'i'v  of  the  Jev/s,  she  knew,  ought  to  be 
pi'cfcrrcd  lo  any  prol'a.ne  hidory  ;  the  Vagans.  vi  ccnirse,  were 
\!ci,.us.  aad  their  relig-i(^iis  (laite  nonsensical,  c<jnsidered  as 
ivligioiis  —  biiiwlas^'h'al  learniiie- came  from  the  Pagans;  the 
( ;  re"::s  v/ei-i'  Pini(;;is  for  seulpLure  :  ti'e  Iialia.ns  f(;r  painting ; 
rlie  jlli^l(iIe  ages  wei'e  dark  and  L'ap'ibtical  ;  liut  iicnv  Chris- 
riaiiiiy  weiit  hand  in  haiui  with  ci\iliz:'ti(,m.  and  the  jiroviden- 
tial  govi'rnment  ..f  llie  woi'hh  fhougii  a  litlle  c(jnfused  and 
cnlsngled  in  inrega'e  eoeadu'ies.  :n  ouv  h^'oivd  l:;ii:l  was  clearly 
S"ei[  to  iie  (■;!rricii  i'orw.tr/l  on  Tory  arnd  Church  of  England 
p!aiiei;:i.-s,  sust:!in;"l  by  l!i"  su'-eessien  of  the  lb;use  of  Ih'uns- 
wii-lv,  an:I  bv  soaiid  English  (bN-iiie.-.  biir  31  iss  Eingon  had 
aad  -v  siiperinr  g(i\'(;  ii- ■.-:s.  wiio  h'-ld  tbat  a,  woiuan  should  be 
b)le  i'i\-,r;ti'a  gone,  lei  Icr.  lual  to  I'.gjiress  lierself  Vsutli  ijro- 
M'iet\"  en  geinia!  i-anei-ts.  And  it  is  a-tec'  iiing  l:o\^'  eifec- 
ri\';'  tills  ('due, e;eii  'Mpi-ired  in  a  hiMuL-ome  gi'E  wiio  sat 
suoi'i'iii'd  \'  w  -  i"  "u  ]]:  o'-'d'^  d:.  :  an  ;  s'ld  i  d:^■ed  a  little,  painted 
S!!!;dl  iimives  iii  ■■..■!. I  ei-;-  1,  rs.  dad  a  naugldy  s]iaii;h'  in  hei 
eyes  v,dha;  r-'i''  leieie  a  e -rdie'  ■j'ed;;tden.  and  an  ail'  of  sei'ien^- 
di'^rnity  wlien  siie  reei'  1  son;:  iddie;-  i'miu  l)"i'  stcu'c  of  correct 
oididons.     Put   liowe\'"r   'audi    .i    >ie(d:    of   ideas    laa}"  b"    made 

to    teil     in    ele_;-;ilit     ■^^' ■■■[■•' \- .    ;:iei     d.lir;te_r    a      tew   seaxjMS     ;;i     towU; 

uo   amLeuie.   of    uloom    ai.d    Ije-an'  ■,  can   iiiai<.i'  Lheiu  ..i    pt-reamai 


82  Vl,;  -x    HOLT,    THE    KADICAT.. 

source  of  interest  in  thinfjs  not  persona]  ,  aiid  the  notion  that 
what  IS  true  and,  m  frenoral,  good  for  niankmd,  is  stupid  and 
dru,c^-]ike,  i=;  not  a  sale  tlieoretie  basis  m  circunistaucL'S  (^f 
tPmpt?tion  and  diffif'ulty.  Mrs.  Transonie  had  been  in  her 
bloom  before  this  centui'v  began,  and  in  the  Ljug  painful  years 
since  then,  what  she  iiad  once  regarded  as  her  knowledge  and 
acconii^Ii.-hments  had  becoriie  as  valueless  as  old-fashioned 
stucco  ornani-.'nts,  of  -which  the  substance  was  never  worth 
anything,  while  the  form  is  no  longer  to  the  taste  of  any 
living  mortal.  Crosses,  mortifi-cations,  m(jney-cares,  conscious 
blamewortliiness,  had  changed  the  aspect  of  the  world  i'or 
her;  tliere  was  anxiety  in  the  morning  surdiglit  ;  tlier'  was 
unkind  triumph  or  disapproving  }iity  in.  tlie  glanc('S  o"  gi'nct- 
ing  neiglibors  ;  there  was  advancing  age.  and  a  ci^ntrai'ting 
prospect  in  the  clianging  seasons  as  they  came  and  went.  And 
what  could  tlien  SAveeten  the  da^'s  to  a  hun:j,']'}'  mni-Ji-exacting 
self  like  ?ilrs.  Transome's  ?  Under  ]'r.:)tract».'<l  ill  every  liv- 
ing creature  will  hnd  sometliiiu;'  tlaii  juakcs  a  comparative 
ease,  and  even  when  life  seeins  \v()V<n  of  j.ain.  will  convert 
the  fainter  jiang  into  a  desire.  "-.Irs.  'i'ran^eme,  whose  impe- 
rious will  had  availed  little  to  ward  oft  tlie  urta.t  erils  of  her 
life,   found  the   opiate   for   her   discontent   in   tlie  ex(-itier.  of 

her  will  about  smaller  things.  Sl'e  yas  ::-t  eriipi.  and  cr.uld 
nf)t  enjoy  thorougjily  wliat  she  cai;.  u  tii''  i<]  .  '.',  ojwaii's  ].lea-iire 
of  tormenting;  nut  sh"  lik.-d  ev:  ;y  lini--  ^^:■n  of  imwei'  liei' 
hit  liad  li'ft  lie]-.  Sh(:  IJkv'd  iiiai  :-,  •'■iiaiii  .^..oeid  siand  bar^-- 
la-aded  fielow  her  as  she  ,-;at  <in  iinr.^ei uaeK.  S!,c  [Wm:]  to  insist 
that  work  (hiwo  M'itlieut  hc'r  r.  'ei'S  sj:ould  b.-  iini]"ii!'  fi'om 
beginning  to  end.  Sl>e  likiMl  to  be  eiir;>i  -■]  :inii  l)o\ved  tol^y 
all  tlie  cdH'^i'egation  as  slie  walked  uj)  tlie  litilc  l)arn  of  a 
chui'ch.  Sill'  lik"d  to  cliange  a  ]:ii)Oi'.'r"s  medicine  fete]ie(l 
ji'om  tlie  deetor.  and  suV»stii  iit<-  a  pi'esei'i]itiiii!  of  her  own.  If 
slie  had  only  lieen  more  hag.^ard  .iiid  b  >>  i.j;, y/.  ti--.  those  who 
had  glim])ses  of  her  (jiitward  ble  iiii-ht  ii,;\.-s:rid  she  was  a 
tyrannical;  gi-iping  bari'id;!!.  v,  Itli  a  ion^eie  iiki-a  cazoi-.  No 
one  said  exaetly  that  :  Iw.:  be.'V  le-v.^r  .-..id  aiiytliiiej;  like  the' 
fidl  ti'uth  about  hei'.  e>i-  or.ic"'^  \']....  w:;<  n'.di'Mi  iindej'  tli;ii: 
ontw'Td    lib'  —  a    w  oi:iaii".;    k(.ei)   .ben.-jilnbty  and   di'ead,    \.;:i'.'h 


FELIX   IIOLT,    THE   JiADICAL.  08 

lay  screened  behind  all  \w.v  jietty  habits  and  narrow  notions, 
as  some  (juivering  thing  witli  eyes  and  throbbing  li<;art  may 
lie  crouching  behind  withered  rubbish.  The  sensibility  ahd 
dread  had  ])al})itat(Hl  all  the  faster  in  the  prospect  of  her  son's 
return;  and  now  that  she  had  seen  him,  she  said  to  h('rself, 
in  her  bitter  way.  ••  It  is  a  lucky  eel  that  escapes  skinning. 
The  best  happiness  i  shall  ever  know,  will  be  to  escape  the 
worst  misery." 


CHArTER   IT. 

A  j'lilly  parson  of  the  j^'^rMid  otl  ^tuck, 

By  liiitli  a  u'ciitlcman,  yet  Iiiiiiidy  too, 

Siiitiiiu'  his  phrasi'  to  lloil^r  and  ^largery 

W'hdii)  h:-  ii'.u-c  chrisrfiH.'M,  a"'',  lias  married  since. 

A  liriie  lax  in  dnct.rini.'  and  in  lii'e. 

X"t:  lliinkini;'  (lud  was  caplinus  in  siudi  tilings 

j\s  wliai  a  man  niigln  driidv  <in  Imlidays, 

But  ImldiiiL:-  ti'iio  rfliginn  wastn  do 

As  y(in  "d  Im-  ilnnf  liy  —  \vlii(di  cdiild  ]if\-er  mean 

'("hai  he  shunld  prearli  thrcr  scrmiais  in  a  week. 

HAnor.T)  Tkaxsomi':  did  not  choose  to  sptnid  the  ^vhole  even- 
ing witli  his  mother.  It  was  his  habit  to  compress  a  great 
(leal  of  cliVctive  conversation  into  a  short  SjKice  (jf  time,  ask- 
ing laiiiolv  all  the  ipirstions  he  wanted  to  get  answer. 'd,  and 
.lilatiag  no  snb]'rct  with  irrelevaneies,  jxirajihrase.  or  repeti- 
tions. I  If  volnnteei'e(l  no  inl'ormation  about  liims.'li'  and  his 
pa^t  life  at  Smyrna,  but  answ-i'ed  pleasantly  enou'.li.  tliough 
bnetlv.  wlnaievi-r  Iiis  mother  a.sked  for  any  detail.  !le  was 
evidmth'  ill-satisfied  as  I0  nis  [lalate,  ti'yiiig  re(|  oepiier  to 
everything,  then  asking  if  thei'e  were  any  relishing  >auees 
;n  tic  house,  and  when  l!i:M<es  bi'ongld'  varior,s  ho:i;e  tided 
iudtles.  ti'\"ing  si-vei-ah  hading  them  failures,  and  liaady  ''ail- 
ing l'a(d<  irmii  his  plale  in  de-pair.  V-'t  ]•'  reiaaihed  good- 
hunn.o  1],  saving  something   to    Ins    father  now   and.  tiieji  for 


84  KETJy    'TOT/!'        !!"•     'A TV-  Ah. 

the  sake  of  being  kind,  and  lookm;,'  on  -with  a  pitying  shrn^ 
as  he  saw  ijiin  v.-at"ii  llickes  cutting  Ins  iood.  3h's.  TrLuisuiu-i 
thought  witii  soni!'  biiterness  that  Ihiroid  showed  more  feel- 
ing for  UL-r  fi-.'ble  husluind  who  ]uid  never  cared  in  the  least 
about  hiui,  ihitu  for  her.  wlio  Lad  given  him  more  than  the 
usual  sliare  ot  motiim-'s  love  Aii  bi.ur  afts.-r  diinier,  HaroL!.. 
who  had  already  been  tur!i!ng  tiver  -i.he  ii-LLves  of  his  mother'i: 
aceouni-b(jiik-.   said  — 

''I  shall  just  cross  the  park  to  the  parsonage  to  see  my 
uncle  Lingoii."' 

'•'  Very  ^vell.     He  can  answer  more  rjuestion:^  for  yn;i."" 

"Yes."'  said  Harold,  (pilte  de^ii  to  th;-  iniiuendo,  anil  accept- 
ing thu  W(n'ds  as  a  simphj  sraiemeni:  of  the  fact.  '■  I  want  Uj 
liear  all  al)out  tlie  ganie  and  the  North  hi'amsliirc  hunt.  I  hu 
fond  of  sport ;  we  had  a  great  deal  of  it  at  Sm}-rna,  and  it 
kee^is  down  my  fat." 

Tlie  i;eA'ercnd  John  Lingon  beeainc  very  talk;!tive  over  Ir^- 
secon;!  bottle  of  port,  which  was  (jpent-d  on  his  ne|hiew".s 
arri\-al.  llo  Avas  not  curious  a'oout  lliC  uianuers  of  .'^myrna, 
or  about  Harold's  ex})erienee,  but  ic.'  rnib'-istaiied  hiiuself  very 
frt^ely  as  to  what  he  himseiL  \iki:d  and  dh. liked,  wiiich  of  the 
farna-rs  he  suspected  of  kiilijig  ihe  foxes,  what  gaUi*!  he  hail 
bagge:!  tlait  ver}' moridng.  A'.autt  .-po'C  in;  woulil  recni-uicud  ;;s 
a  ]iew  cir,-fr,  and  the  c(nn}K;rai  i.'e  d-..l;a'ss  of  ail  existing  sp(jrL 
com]i;!rcd  Avitli  cock-liglilin;.;'.  und'T  which  cod  lhi;;la!;d  had 
been  prn,~pei'(,r,s  aiiid  gh,ri(ais,  Acihh  .  .-.f)  JVa;  a.>  li"  ceaild  see, 
i'c  had  giiluedi  biitle  by  the  idueiiiuri  (d'  a  \i',"..  crir,  wi.u-h  .^Jiarj) 
(uied  the  i'ac!d"i!es  oi  ni'-n.  gratdi'-di.  I  he  in.- 1 iuci.^  (u'  i!ie  fowl, 
andl  (  anded  (.ur  the  di  ^dgii-.  o['  jieavei:  iu  its  a'lmirediie  device 
of  S[)Ui'S.  ]d-i)iii  tliese  m;dii  tepic.-.  -r.dd.ch  madi_'-  hi^  noiiits  of 
departure  ;ind  I'etui'i!,  he  I'iMaiih'd  e;i;diy  enough  at  any  U'-w 
suggestion  (a-  oiu-ry  :  -iiil,:,,  \':]v.-ii  Ilnridd  ;L;(;t  Icane  ;:t.  a  late 
liour,  lie  \e;is  eons(dous  oi'  ji  \du'.:  galliered,  fvoju  ;iiiiidst  t]i(\ 
])oni}iou.-^  tub-toned  tii  \d;dily  oi'  id,-,  uiade's  chnt  S' me  dnpres- 
sioiis  whiidi  ACere'  oi'  p!';ictic;d  im])oriauct'.  .\iuonL;  {[:••  Itec- 
tor's  di.slikes.  it  ap])e:ii'ed|.  w^-^  dii'.  Ainithew  Jerjuv:.. 

"A  fntdianih^l.  glili-toa_;ueii  ier''.'V,',  wuli  a  sc  iiti-'  i-ambric 
h;ticd-Ler(duuf  ;  one  of  j,'our  eduicatedt.  low-bred  feiiuw,^  ;   a  fo'iudi' 


FELiX    HOLT,    THE    KADICAL.  Co 

ling  who  got  liis  Latin  for  iiutliing  at  (Jhrist's  Hos})ital ;  oiio 
of  your  niitldU'-cIass  upstarts  who  want  to  rank  with  gen- 
tleniun,  and  tliink  they  "11  do  it  with  kid  gloves  and  new 
t'urniture." 

l)ut  since  Harold  meant  to  stand  i'or  the  county,  Mr.  Lingoi! 
was  equally  cuipluitic  as  to  the  necessity  of  his  not  Cjuarrelling 
with  Jeruiyn  till  the  election  was  over.  Jeriiiyn  must  be  his 
■'.gent;  Harold  must  wink  hard  till  he  round  himscdf  safely 
returned;  and  even  then  it  niiglit  he  well  to  h^t  Jermyn  drop 
g^'utly  and  raise  no  scaudiil.  lie  iiiiiis-elf  had  no  fjuarrel  with 
the  fellow:  a  clei'gymui  shuu.d  n:ive-  no  (luarvi'ls,  and  he  made 
it  a>  point  to  he  ahle  lo  rnk"  'A'iiV'  widi  an\'  man  lie  met  at 
tahle.  And  as  to  the  estat",  p.n  I  hi.;  sister's  going  too  much 
by  JVrmyn's  advice,  he  never  ni  ddle;!  with  business  :  it  was 
not  his  dutv  as  a  (dergyman.  That,  he  consid.ered,  was  the 
meaning  of  .Melchisedec;  ;;nd  ciie  tithe,  a  subject;  into  which  he 
nad  goni>  to  soiii,'  d .plh  tliirty  years  ag(j,  when  he  preiiched 
the    X'jsilatidu  Si  nuun. 

The  discevery  tliat  Harold  niea'it.  to  stand  on  tiie  J^iberal 
side  —  nay,  rlial  he  b"ldly  dcclari'il  Inmself  a  luidical — w;is 
rathm-  starliing;  i)ut  to  his  un(de"s  guoddiumor,  Ijeatihe.l  by 
tlie  sip}>ing  oi'  })()r'i-u  i!ie.  iiolhiii;;  euuid  seem  highly  objection- 
able, proviiliML  h  d'ul  net  disuii-b  tlial  ojK'ration.  In  the  course 
of  halt  ai!  lu)i;r  Jie  iiad  bri>;ight  liims:!!'  to  see  that  anything 
really  worthy  to  be  called  ISi-ili-h  Twryis]!!  had  been  entirely 
extinct  ^linc"  the  J)uk;'  (if  A\'cl::;:gn)n  and  Sir  l:';bert  I'eel  had 
passed  tlie  I'atlieiic  fiiaaneipal  ion  ibil  ;  ;!ia;;  A\'higg(-ry.  with 
its  riglits  oi'  man  sto^.ihn.g  short  at  ten-i^ouiid  luuiseholders, 
and  its  policy  of  jyieitying  a  v.ild  Ijaast  wit!i  a.  bit",  was  a  ridicu- 
loas  iuomda-or^ity  ;  tliat  tlaa'.'iore.  -;iiici'  an  lion,  :,t  man  coidd 
not  call  Idinsi'lt  a  'i'ovy,  wliicii  it  wais,  in  TaaM".  as  impossible  to 
be  luiw  as  to  li'^it  b;r  the  old  I'i'.'t.auha'.  an-l  could  still  less 
becomi^,  that  exeiTablo  monsti■o^ibv  a.  \Viii,';'-  tiici'e  i-niciined 
liut  one  cours"  open  to  liini.  ••  Why,  lad.  'l  tlie  world,  was 
turi!"il  into  a  swa.mp.  1  sn]>pose  wo  siioulil  Ioav(>  olV  sbai-sand 
stool<;ijgs,  and  waflc  about  like  (a-anes  "  —  whence  it  i'oi]o\\'e(i 
]■'  ie'y  '■nongli  that,  in  tliose  ho,oo;oss  times,  notliin.:  was  loft. 
to   ...en  ot  sense  and  gooil   fariaiv  init  to  retard  tlie   niitionai 


36  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

ruin  by  declaring-  themselves  Radicals;  and  take  the  inevitable 
process  of  chauying  everything  out  of  the  hands  of  ueggurly 
demagogues  and  purse-proud  tradesmen.  It  is  true  the  Keetor 
was  helped  t(j  this  chain  of  reasoning  hy  Harold's  remarks; 
but  he  sorm  be'Came  epiite  ardent  in  asserting  the  conclusion. 

"  If  the  nvSi)  cau""C  be  turned  back,  a  man  of  family  must  try 
and  head  the  mol),  and  save  a  few  homes  and  hearths,  and 
keep  tlie  country  up  on  its  last  legs  as  long  as  he  can.  And 
you're  a  man  of  family,  my  lad  —  dash  it  I  you're  a  Lingon, 
whati'V(M'  else  you  nmy  be,  and  I'll  stand  by  you.  I've  no 
great  inti'r(:!St ;  1 'm  a  poor  parson.  I've  ijeen  I'orced  to  give 
up  hunting;  my  [jointeu's  and  a  glass  of  good  wine  are  tlie  only 
decencies  becomi)ig  my  station  that  I  can  allow  myself.  But 
I  "11  give  3'iju  my  counienance  —  I  '11  stick  to  ycni  as  my 
neplimv.  Th('r(;  's  no  ne(,'d  for  me  to  change  sides  i.'xactly. 
I  was  Ixirn  a  'for}-,  and  I  shall  never  Ije  a  Ijishop.  iJut  if 
anybody  says  you're  in  the  wrong,  f  shall  say,  '-My  nephew 
is  in  the  right ;  he  has  turned  iiadieal  to  save  his  country. 
If  William  Pitt  had  been  living  iiow,  he'd  have  done  the 
same;  for  what  did  h(i  say  when  he  was  dying?  Xot  "Oh, 
save  luy  i»arty  !"  i)ut  ••<)h,  save  my  country,  heaven!'"  Tliat 
was  wiiat  they  dinned  in  our  ears  a])Out  I'cd  and  the  Duke  ; 
and  ]i'<\v  [ 'u  rurM  it  round  upon  them.  They  shall  ])e  hoist 
witb  theii'  own  ]i(iard.      Yes,  yes,  I  '11  stand  by  you." 

Harcj]  1  did  not  feel  sure  tliat  his  uncle  would  thr)roiighly 
retain  tins  s;irisf;ictoi-v  tlii'cad  of  ai'giiment  in  tli'  uninspired 
hour-;  oi'  tli(j  inorniiig;  but  tlie  old  gentlenian  was  sure  to  take 
tiie  iacts  easily  in  tin'  end.  auil  tiiere  was  no  fea.r  of  family 
coolness  or  ipan'relling  on  this  side,  llai'old  was  glad  of  it. 
Ht!  Avas  nol,  to  ije  luriieil  aside  iVom  uwy  eoiu-se  he  lia<l  f]io>"i:  : 
but  be  di.-liked  all  fjwarrelling  as  an  uii;ile;i>ant  expendituii- 
of  enei'gy  iliat  '-ould  have  no  good  practical  result.  He  was, 
at  once  aeiive  and  liixurioii>;  buxl  of  masfeiy,  ;oid  good- 
natured  enough  to  wish  thai,  {'Xrvy  one  aitout  him  should  lika 
liis  masteiy  ;  not  earing  ■.p'e.itly  to  know  oth'-r  jieoplc'.-,  thuuglits, 
and  ready  to  des]»is{-  them  a:^  l)lockheads  if  their  thoughts  dif- 
fered from  his,  and  yi't  solicitous  that;  t.hey  :h'''ii  i  r-v'.  -o 
(ydorable  reason   lor  slight    thoughts  about  Uli/i.      iLti   oioek- 


FKLIX    HOLT,    TiiE    KADICAL.  37 

heads  must  be  forced  to  rcsncct  liiiii.  Heuci',  in  proportion,  as 
lie  foresaw  that  his  equals  in  the  u(>iglil)orliood  would  be;  in- 
dignant with  .him  for  his  political  choice,  he  cared  keenly 
about  making  a  good  figure  b(d'ore  them  in  evavy  other  way. 
Ills  conduct  as  a  landholder  was  to  be  judicious,  his  establish- 
ment was  to  be  kept  up  gentn'ousl}',  his  imbecile  father  treated 
with  careful  regard.  Ins  family  relations  entirely  without  scan- 
dal. He  knew  that  affairs  had  bt;en  unpleasant  in  his  youth 
• — that  there  had  been  ugly  lawsuits  —  and  that  his  scape- 
grace brother  Durfey  had  helped  to  lower  still  faitlicr  the 
depressed  condition  of  the  family.  All  this  must  be  I'cti'icved, 
now  that  t-vents  had  ijuulc  Jlarold  the  head  of  tlv  Transdme 
name. 

Jermyn  must  'ne  used  for  the  c;lection,  and  ai'ter  that,  if  lie 
must  be  got  rid  oi',  it  would  be  well  to  shake  him  loose  (piietly ; 
his  uncli!  was  probably  right  on  both  tliese  ])0!iits.  l»ut  Har- 
old's ex})ectati()n  that  he  should  want  to  get  I'id  of  flerinyn 
was  fouiided  on  (^t  her  reasons  than  his  scented  handkc.'rchief 
and   his  ciiarity-: fliool    Latin. 

if  the  lawyer  had  Ixmmi  ]iresuming  on  ^Mrs.  Transome's  ig- 
niUMiice  as  a  woman,  and  on  the  stupiil  rakishness  oi'  tli.' 
original  lieir.  the  lunv  heir  -would  ]:)rovt!  to  him  that  he  hail 
calculated  ra-<Iily.  (  itlierwisc^,  Harold  had  no  jirejudice  an"aiii.-.t 
him.  In  ins  boyhood  and  youth  h(>  had  siMni  Jermyn  frequent- 
ing 'rraiisome  Court,  liut  h;id  regai'ded  liim  witli  that  t(it:d 
indiffereiiee  wii,h  whieii  yoang.d'ei-s  are  a]tt  to  v'ww  those  who 
neitlier  deny  them  pleasures  nor  give  them  any.  Jermyn  used 
to  smile  ;it  him,  and  s}ieak  to  him  aifa.i)!y  ;  but  Ilai'old,  half 
iroud,  half  shy,  got  away  J'roni  such  patronage  as  soon  as  j.cis- 
silile  :  lie  knev,  Jermyn  was  a  man  of  l)u.siness;  liis  father, 
his  uncl(%  and  Sii'  Ma.ximus  Debarry  did  not  regard  him  as  a 
gentlrmiiu  and  their  equal.  lie  had  known  no  evil  of  In  ' 
man;  but  he  s:i\vno\v  that  if  he  were  really  a  eo\'e1ous  ii}'- 
S(;irr.  then'  had  been  a  t<uii!i1atiou  I'oi-  liiia  in  the  ma.iiageiuent 
of  the  I'rausome  atfairs  ;  and  it  was  clear  that  the  estate  \v;ts 
bi   a,   t)ad   condition. 

When  Mr.  dCniiNi!  was  ushereil  into  the  iM"e:il-;f:i-:t nnim  t:  e 
Uext  morning,  Harold  found   him  surprisingly  little  allerec:  by 


38  FELIX   HOLT,    THE  KADICAL. 

the  fifteen  years,  lie  was  gray,  but  still  remarkably  liana- 
some;  fat,  but  t;ill  enough  to  bear  that  tri:il  to  man's  dignity, 
'i'here  was  as  strong  a  suggestion  of  toilet  about  him  as  if  he 
hid  been  livu-and-tweuty  instead  of  nearly  .jixty.  He  chose 
always  to  dress  in  black,  and  was  especially  addicted  to  black 
S'tin  waistcoats,  wliicli  carried  out  the  gt'ucral  slcokness  oi 
i;^s  ajinearance;  anil  this,  together  with  his  \diite,  fat,  but 
I  \autifully  shaped  hands,  v>diich  he  was  in  the  habit  of  rub- 
1  'ng  gently  on  las  eJitrance  into  a  room,  gave  him  very  much 
ii:i'  air  of  a  lady's  physician.  Harold  remembered  with  some 
a.nusement  his  itncle's  dislike  of  those  conspieuotis  hands  ; 
I  It  ;is  his  own  were  soft  and  dimpled,  ;:ind  as  he  too  was  given 
t'>  the  innocent  practice  of  rubbing  those  members,  his  suspi- 
eions  Avere  not  yet  de(/penc'b 

''I  congratulate  you,  3lr.'.  Transonu:>,"'  said  Jermyn,  with  a 
s' ft  a'ld  deferential  smib-.  ••idl  ['up  leuire,'"  he  added,  turnin.g 
t-vrards  llrriold,  •'•n'lW  I  h,v'--  rlie  jdeabure  of  actually  seeing 
y.iur  son.  I  am  ghid  to  p(  rcpu-(-  tli:!t  pti  E;i.-tern  climate  has 
]'<)t  bi'cn  unfavorable  t-j  Mni." 

••Xo,""said  Harold,  shcd^in:^-  Jennyn's  liand  cn.relesslv,  ami 
^  )e;il;ing  witli  more  tl;:  n  los  u^ual  raind  leu -oueiiess.  '-tlie 
.  u;  stiun  is.  whether  t!:'-  .H,n,L;'iish  cliucitc  v.uil  a-aee  witli  me. 
it  "s  deue.jd  shiifin":  ;in.l  d;inip.  ;niil  as  i''>v  the  loo'l,  it  wcadd 
lie  tlie  finest  thing  in  Ibe  world  ^'ov  rliis  eenutrv  iT  tb.e  southern 
e.ioks  woiiM  e];;a!gi-  ib'ir  re;io-ion.  g{4  ])er<ecuo'.u  au'l  fh'  to 
Engl;;  v].  ;;>   tii"   old    :-.:ik-weaV(M-s   did.'' 

'• '1  here,  ari!  plr-nty  ol'  i'oi'ei'.-:!!  eoo'^-;  for  tho-e  vclio  are  rich 
enough  to  y.y  lor  lli.e;..  i  sui'OOm  ."  said  iMrs.  Tran-ome.  '-but 
t'lev  I've  uiioi^';is;;ni;  ]u  ople  to  i;avi-  idiout  one's  house." 

'•(bid:    I  don't  tliiiik  so."  Hsid  llsi'old. 

■•'I'll.'   oldi  -.er\-:int  :  :>v  su.ro  to  r,ii-vrol   with  tliem."' 

'•■J'haL's  no  eoiics-ii  ol'  niii!,-.  Tl;-  old  sei'vaiit-  will  liave 
to  j)ut  upw'ii!  my  lesii  ])o;sini'\  wlio  will  s]iow  {hoiii  jiow  to 
eook  and  do  evrrytliinu'  obo.  in  a  wsy  lieit  will  iMth-i-  astonish 
iiiem." 

"(.)ld  peoi)le  are  n^t  so  easily  i.ned.t  to  ciiam^e  all  their 
ways,  Harold."' 

'*  Weil,  they  can   :-;i\':    up   and    waUcii    tlie    vouiiLr   ones,"  said 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   liADICAL.  39 

Harold,  thinking  only  at  that  moment  of  old  ]\[rs.  Hickes  and 
Dominic.     I->ut  his  motlKr  was  not  tliinking  of  tlu^m  (jnly. 

•'  You  liave  a  valuable  servant,  it  seems/"'  said  Jermyn,  who 
understood  Mrs.  Transome  bi'ttv'V  than  her  son  did,  and  v.dshed 
to  snioothen  the  current  of  tlieir  dialogue. 

'•I'll,  one  of  those  wonderful  souti!"rn  fellows  that  make 
one's  life  easy.  He  *s  of  no  country  in  partitular.  1  don't 
know  -vvhether  he  's  most  of  a  Jew,  a  Greek,  an  Italian,  or  a 
S}»aniard.  He  speaks  hve  or  six  languages,  one  as  well  as 
anothi'r.  He  "s  C(;oiv,  valet,  major-domo,  cUid  secretary  all  in 
one  ;  and  wluit  "s  more,  he  "s  an  affectionate  fellow  —  I  can 
trust  to  his  attaeliment.  That's  a  sort  of  luuiam  sjiecimen 
tliat  does  n't  grow  here  in  England,  I  fancy.  I  sliould  have 
been  badly  off  if  I  could  not  have  l)r(jnght  Dominic." 

The}"  sat  down  to  breakfast  vvitli  such  slight  talk  as  this 
gt)ing  on.  Each  of  the  part}'  was  preoccupied  and  uneasy. 
Harold's  mind.  Avas  busy  constructing  probabilities  about  what 
he  shordd  discoviU'  of  .Tiuanyn's  mismanagement  or  dubious 
application  of  i'unds.  and  the  sort  of  self-command  he  nuist  in 
the  worst  case  exei'i/ise  in  order  to  use  tla^  man  as  hmg  as  he 
wanted  him.  Jermyn  was  closidy  obs''vving  Harold  with  an 
unpleasant  sense  tlsnt  there  Avas  an  expression  of  a.cuteuess 
and  detei'iidn.'itio!!  about  him  wliie],  wdul'l  m:-'ar'  him  formi- 
dable, lb'  wniild  certairdy  liiv-  pnderred  at  that  mfuuent 
thatliiiTe  had  lieen  no  second  biar  el' ihe  Transome  name  to 
eome  l)ael<  upon  liiai  from  the  Ea^-t.  .Mrs.  'I'l'ansome  w^.^  not 
obsei'viiig  111!'  tv,":)  men  ;  ratlaa'.  hm'  hands  wi'Vf  cold,  and  he)' 
wbole  perseai  shaken  b.vtja'ir  presenea  ;  she  seiaaed  to  liea.r  and 
;-e'e  \\"bat  they  s.iitl  and  din  wiih  ])reternatural  aeuteiiess, 
and  Vet  she  was  aNo  seeing  aaid  heariir^  vdiat  had  bei^i  said 
;uiil  don.e  m:iny  years  bebjre.  and  i'eeling  a  dim  teia'or  about 
the  future.  Tbiere  wiu'e  jiiieous  s-aisibilities  in  this  fadeil 
woman,  wbo  tlurtv-!'"ur  years  aa'o.  in  tic  splendor  of  her 
iiiooni.  had  been  im[ieiaoaiS  to  one  ol'  these-  men.  and  laid  r:;i)- 
iaroa-:y  ]»ressed  the  otlcu'  as  an  iib'ant  to  her  hoson:.  ana  lauv 
knev,-  1  liat  she  was  oi'  liMl  ■  con-  ■  pieia-e  to  eitlier  of  tli >■■,.!. 

"''A'^'il.  wiad  are  ibe  ]^r  -  :j)ecl-;  alxnit  ibe  eu-ia:  n  V  ""  saal 
H:u'olil,   as    the    lau^akfast    was    ad\an(;.ing.      ■•  'idiere    are    two 


40         FELIX  HOLT,  THE  RADICAL. 

Whigs  and  one  C(jusei'vative  likely  to  be  in  the  field,  I  know. 
What  i'--  Toui-  <ii)iiiion  of  the  chances  ?'' 

'M::.  /(n'liiyn  liuil  a  copious  supply  of  words,  which  often  led 
liim  into  pf-ri; linage,  but  he  cultivated  a  hesitating  stammer, 
win--!;,  x.xth  t  iiandsome  impassiveness  f;f  face,  except  when 
he  was  sniUiug  at  a  woman,  or  when  tlie  latent  savageness  of 
his  naturr  was  thoroughly  roused,  he  had  found  useful  in  many 
relation o,  fspeeially  in  business.  Xo  one  v?ould  have  found  oi:t 
tliat  he  was  lajt  at  his  ease.  "  My  opinion,"  he  replied,  '■  is  in 
a  state  of  balance  at  present.  This  division  of  th;>  county, 
you  are  aware,  contains  one  manulacturing  toAvn  of  the  first 
magnitude,  nnil  seve-ral  smaller  one-s.  Th';  manufacturing  in- 
terest is  widely  dispersed.  So  far  —  a -— there  is  a  pr(-sump- 
tion  —  a  —  in  favoi-  of  the  two  Liberal  candidates.  Still,  with 
a  careful  canvass  of  the  agricultural  districts,  sucli  as  those  we 
hav;,'  round  us  at  Ti-eb\-  Magna,  I  think — a  — tlie  augui'ies  — 
a — would  not  lie  ujjfiivoruljle  to  the  return  of  n.  Cons''^rvative. 
A  fourth  candidati.'  of  good  position,  wlio  should  coalesce  with 
?.[r.  Debarry— a  — " 

Here  ^vfr.  Jeriuyn  hesitated  for  the  third  time,  and  Harolc 
broke  in. 

'•'That  will  not  l)e  my  lin-"  of  action,  so  Vv-e  need  not  discuss 
it.  If  I  ]iiit  up,  it  will  1)C  a-  r;  Ibidical  :  and  T  faney.  in  any 
r'f.imtv  i]\[[^:  vouhl  rf-tuni  \Vlii,'_;N  there  would  be  ]il."iity  of 
A-etf-]'s  to  i>e  eondied  olV  l)y  a,  l^adieai  wlio  offered  liimselt  with 
good  pretensions. '*' 

Tliere  v,';is  the  slighti.'St  })()ssibh'  quiver  discei'nibie  ;;erosg 
demiyii's  bicf;.      (Jtherwi^e  ]i(.  sat  as  he  h;id  done  befi^r-.  wivli 

iiis  ey.'S  !iv(ol   ribstl-aeteilly  oil   tlj''    fl'ill  of  0  ll.'lll!   h(''u,yc  iiilil.aild 

his  hind  ti'iiliim-  wirii  liis  fork.  lie  did  n'lt  answi'i'  imnieiH. 
aolv.  ])ut  v.icn  ])f  did.  he  looked  round  si-adily  at  Iliircdd. 

'' 1  "ill  ileli-bled  to  perc(-ive  that  you  have  ]<ept  y(jurself  so 
thoroui^hly  aenuninted  witli  lhic;"lisli  jirilities." 

'•<)li.  of  eourse."  s;uil  Ibir^dd.  impatiently.  '-'I'm  awai'e 
bow  tliiiiL''s  liave  ];e.  n  e'iiie-  r:ii  in  fai'daud.  T  ahvavs  lae-iil 
to  come  ba''k  idriiiiMtely.  I  ^up])(;se  1  Icia;";  tb"  stat"  of  bba- 
rope  ;is  we-11  as  il'  i  M  iiei  ;i  -tatiiaini'v  at  Tdtil  '  Tridjy  for  the 
last  fifteen  years.      11'  ;i  man   goes  to  the   J'last,  p-cople  s:jen:  to 


FELIX   II0L'1\    ^rilE   KADICAL.  41 

think  lie  gets  turned  into  something  like  the  one-eyed  calender 
in  tlie  '  Arabian  Xiglits.'  " 

"  Yet  I  should  think  there  are  some  things  which  people 
wluj  ]i:ive  been  stationary  at  Little  I'l-eby  could  tell  you,  Ilai'- 
old,"'  said  3di's.  'I'ransome.  '-It  did  not  siginiy  about  youi 
holdiny  i'adi  al  opinions  at  Smyrna,;  but  j'ou  seem  not  to 
imagine  how  your  putting  up  as  a-  Hadical  Avill  airect  youi 
position  here,  and  tlie  })Ositiou  of  your  i'amil}'.  No  one  will 
visit  you.  And  then.  —  the  sort  oi'  people  who  will  support 
you!  You  really  have  no  idea.,  what  an  impression  it  conveys 
when  you  say  you  are  a  Kadical.  There  arc  norie  oi  our  cipials 
who  will  not  ['eel  that  you  havi'  disgraced  yourself."' 

''  I'ooh  I  ■'  said  Harold,  rising  and  walking  along  the  room. 

But  Mrs.  Transonic  went  on  with  growing  anger  in  her  voice 
—  '-It  seems  to  mo  that  a  man  owes  something  to  his  birth 
and  station,  and  has  no  right  to  take  u})  this  notion  or  the 
other,  just  as  it  suits  his  fancy  ;  still  less  to  w()rk  at  the  over- 
throw of  his  class.  That  was  what  ''Veiy  one  said  of  Lord 
(iri'v.  and  my  family  at  hxist  is  as  gi^od  as  Lord  (jrr(\v*s.  You 
iiave  wcalih  now,  :ind  might  distinguish  yourself  in  the  county  ; 
and  if  3'ou  had  been  true  to  }oiir  colois  as  a  gcnllviuan.  you 
would  have  h;ul  all  the  greater  opportunity  bcracNO  the  times 
are  so  bad.  Tlie  J)ebarrys  and  Lonl  Wyverii  would  haxo  set 
all  the  moi'e  store  In'  you.  For  my  ])art,  I  can't  conci'ivt^  what 
good  you  iiro})0^e  to  yourself.  ]  only  entreat  you  to  thiidc 
again   bi'i'oro  you  take  any  decided  ste[)." 

■' .Mother,''  said  Ilarolil.  not  angrily  or  Vvilh  any  raising  of 
his  voie(>,  l)ut  in  a  i[uiek.  impatient  manu'er,  as  if  tlie  scne 
must  l)e  got  tlivou'.di  as  (piiehly  as  iiossii)le  :  •■  it  is  nahirrd 
tiiat  y(ai  slioiild  tliink  in  this  Vv-;;y.  Women,  very  pro[)erly. 
tlon't  ch;;nge  tlieir  vii'ws,  but  kerp  te,  the  luttions  in  whicii 
tlcy  liav;^  hi'cw  brcaiglit  up.  It  do''s  n"t  signify  wiiat  they 
tliink^  they  are  u(/t  called  lep'T.  U>  ju(h-;e  ca-  to  act.  Yea 
must  really  leave  me  to  take  Miy  o  \'n  cerai'.^e  in  tlies  '  m,nter>. 
.'.liieh  properly  b-,  1  rag  to  men.  P.eyond  that.  T  \\-ill  gi'atity 
any  wisii  ym  ''boose  lo  menfion.  You  shall  hav,'  a  new  ear 
;aage  aiei  a  pair  ol'  Ijays  ail  to  oursell';  Aaai  -liab  beve  ttie 
house   done   up  in  'irst-;atc   style,  and   1  am  not   linniviug  of 


42  FELIX   IK)LT,    THE   RADICAL. 

marrying.  But  let  us  understand  that  there  jdiall  be  no 
further  collisiijn  between  us  on  subject.s  du  wliich  1  laust  Ijc 
master  of  my  o'.vn  actions." 

"And  you  v.-ill  put  tl;e  crown  to  the  jnortihcatioiis  of  my 
life,  Tlaruhh  I  don't  know  v.-ho  wfiida'  r;i'  -  ]nother  if  sh(^ 
could  fnre.s'.o  what  a  slight  thing  siie  will  oe  to  her  son  when 
she  is  old.'' 

Mrs.  Traa.:(.)];ie  liere  walked  nut  of  the  room  ])y  the  nearest 
way  —  the  L.it;::s  door  Oj;en  tovrards  tlie  ti-rra  ■•■.  .^Ir.  Jcrmyn 
had  risen  tor),  au'l  his  haaids  were  on  the  !;ai'k  oi'  his  chair. 
He  looke.l  quite  im],)assi\-L' :  it  Avas  not  the  tir.-t  lina' he  had 
seen  ]\Irs.  Transonio  augiT  ;  but  n(;w.  'an-  the  ihv->t  time,  he 
thoughl;  til-  dUtbui'.-jt  of  her  t'.^niper  a'/ouIiI  h'c  ui-j-fu]  to  hua. 
Sh''.  poor  woii;:'ji.  knt'W  rputc  v.all  tir.iL  she  had  b:'''n  lunvise, 
and  tliat  she  had  be;'n  mal-iina'  herself  di;-.a;._;'i-oeablo  to  Harold 
to  no  pur})osr.  ];ut  hal  i'  the  sorrows  of  women  would  Ije 
avi-rtiMJ  ii  ihi-y  could.  ro[iri  -s  th"  sp'oi-eh  thi;y  kntjw  to  1)e  use- 
los.-,  —  nay.  tlv  spf'^-h  tla  y  hav.'  resolved  not  to  uttei'.  Harold 
couiiniu'd   his   walkiiig   a   moment   longer,   and    then    said   tc^ 

Jel'liixn  — 

••  Vou  smoke  ?  " 

•'•  Xo.  I  alwiiys  deiVr  to  the  Indies.  l\Irs,  Jerniyn  is  pecu- 
liarly sensiti\'<'  i:i  Ma'ii  iiaitle:',--;.  'lud  doesn't  lilo'  tc;l.aceo."" 

Harold;  who.  uiidej'ueath  all  ilie  tend^eucie,-.  which  laid  uuule 
him  a  Liiji-!';d.  had  iiit"n>"  ]"a-soiad  pride,  thi^uant.  "Ciadound 
l;ie  i'dilovv'  —  v,i;h  his  i\ri'.^.  -b  rmyn  !  Does  lie  thiiik  we  are  or; 
.  iooliiig  ie)r  ;■;  -  to  k'now  ioiylliiiig  altout  his  Aviie  '.' "" 

•■  W'^-il,  T  took  !!.\'  hi'!  1;:  'i  bdore  breukiasl."  he  >:i]i\  ;doial; 
''so.  if  yoii  ]i;;,'.  w  'ii  -■  i  i::to  the  libraiw.  My  f.aljiT  never 
gi-ts  up  till  und-diy.  I  liiid." 

••Sit  down,  sit  ddwai."  >;]]:}  Hai'old,  as  Ih-'V  <'iitia'"i]  the 
haiid.-.oaas.  spSiao-is  iiiir:;ry.  lir.t  he  hiiu-eli'  eouriiiui-il  io  s1:!U(l 
Ijeioi'f  a  111..;)  <•!'  lli  •  eoeoily  -/v-hieh  he  ti.'id  open.-d  [Vnin  ;i  series 
of  rolh'i'S  "'■".■::' <y]]v^  ;:  e^ii:;;  i.nuient  ameina-  tlie  boolc-shidves. 
•'  i'he  hrst  que.-aia'U.  i\Ir.  -!■  i-aiyii.  no'w  you  km^w  my  inti'iitious, 
i^.  whetliiT  you  '\siii  aoi'V-il  :!■."  .<<  b'e  my  agfUiT  in  this  election, 
iiml  ht'l))  111"  iki'i'U'di  '.'  Tli-a-" ':'  no  tim>-  to  In-  lo-t.  .■uiil  I  don't 
•■. .'iJ-t  to  lo.-,e    m  v"  eliiiiH-e,  u;   !    ;..;i\-   im)    liuve    cUiotlieT    for   .^eveu 


FELIX    HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  43 

years,  I  understaTid,"  lie  went  nn,  fiasliiug  a  look  straight  at 
Jerniyn^  "that  you  have  not  taken  any  conspicuous  course  in 
politics ;  and  i  know  that  Labron  is  agent  for  the  Debarrys." 

''Oh  —  a  —  my  dear  sir  —  a.  man  necessarily  has  his  politi- 
cal convictions,  but  of  what  use  is  it  for  a  professional  man  — 
a  —  of  some  education,  to  talk  of  them  in  a  little  country 
town  ?  There  really  is  no  comprehension  of  public  questions  in 
such  })laces.  I'iirty  feeling,  indeed,  \vas  quite  asleep  here  before 
till!  agitation  about  the  Catholic;  Ivelief  15111.  It  is  true  that  I 
concurred  with  our  incumljent  in  getting  up  a  }ietition  against 
the  Keform  lUU,  but  1  did  not  state  my  reasons.  Tlie  weak 
points  in  that  lUll  arc^  —  a  —  too  palpable,  and  1  fancy  you  and 
I  should  not  diifer  much  on  that  head.  The  fact  is,  when  I 
knew  that  you  were  to  come  back  to  us,  T  ke])t  myself  in  re- 
serve. tJunigli  I  was  much  pressed  by  the  friends  of  Sir  James 
Clement,  the  Ministerial  candidate,  who  is  —  " 

••  However,  you  will  act  for  me  —  that  "s  settled  ? ''  said 
Harold. 

••  Cei'tainly."  said  .Termyn,  inwardl}-  irritated  b\'  Harold's 
ra})id  manner  of  cutting  him  short. 

'•Wliicliol'  the  Liberal  candidates,  as  they  call  themselves, 
has  the  better  clianee,  eh  ?  *' 

'•  1  was  u'oiiig  to  obst'i've  tluit  Sir  James  Clement  has  not  so 
good  a  cliance  as  ]\Ir.  Carstin,  supposing  that  a  third  Libt'i'al 
candidati.'  presents  himseU'.  Tliere  ar''  two  senses  in  which  a 
politician  can  l»e  libei'al  "  —  here  Mr.  Jeianyn  smiled — '-Sir 
James  Clenu/nt  is  a  })Oor  iiaronet,  hopim;-  for  an  appointment, 
and  can't  be  ex])eeted  to  be  liberal  in  that  wider  S(uise  wliicli 
commands  majorities."' 

••  I  wish  this  m;!n  were  not  so   nnich  of  a  talkei'."  thou.^'ht 
Harold  ;   '■  he  "11  bore  me.     AVe  shall  see."  he  said  aloud.  ••  Avliat 
can  bi'  done  in   the  way  oi'  eondti'iation.      1  "11   come  down    to 
your  oilice  after  one  o'clock  if  it,  will  suit  you  ?  "' 
'•  rerb'ctly." 

'•  Ah.  and  you  '11  hav(^  all  the  lists  and  ]>apers  and  necessary 
ini'oi'mation  ready  for  me  there,  T  nnisr  get  up  ;i  dinner  for 
the  tenants,  and  we  can  invit-'  wliom  we  lil^e  bc-^idcs  rh.e  ten- 
ants.    Just  now,  1  "n;  goiiiLj  over  one  uf  the  farms  on  hand  with 


44  FF.LIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

the  bailiff.  By  th'.^  way,  that 's  a  desperately  bad  business,  hav 
ing  three  farms  unlet  —  how  comes  that  about,  eh  ?  " 

*■  That  is  precisely  what  I  wanted  to  say  a  few  words  about 
to  you.  You  liHve  observed  already  how  strongly  ]\lrs.  Tran- 
some  takes  eeriain  things  to  heart.  You  can  iiiia;.;-int-  that  she 
iias  been  severely  tried  in  many  ways.  Mr.  Transome"s  want 
of  healtli ;  -Mr.  Durfey's  habits  —  a  —  " 

"Yes,  yes." 

"  Sh('  is  a  woman  for  whom  i  naturally  entertain  the  highest 
respect,  ami  she  has  had  hardly  any  gratification  for  many 
years,  except  the  sense  of  having  affairs  to  a  certain  extent  in 
her  own  hands.  She  objects  to  changes;  she  will  not  have  a 
new  style  of  tenants ;  she  likes  the  old  stock  of  farmers  who 
milk  their  own  cows,  and  send  their  younger  daughters  out  to 
service  :  all  this  makes  it  difficult  to  do  the  best  with  the  es- 
tate. I  am  aware  things  are  not  as  they  ought  to  be,  for,  in 
point  of  fact,  an  improved  agricultural  management  is  a  matter 
in  which  I  take  considerable  interest,  and  the  farm  which  I 
myself  hold  on  the  estate  you  will  see,  I  think,  to  be  in  a  su- 
perior condition.  But  ^Mrs.  Transome  is  a  woman  of  strong 
feeling,  and  I  Vv-ould  urge  you,  my  dear  sir,  to  make  the  changes 
whicli  you  have,  but  which  I  liad  not  the  right  to  insist  on,  as 
attlt-  ]ia!iiful  to  lier  as  possible." 

'•  i  sliall  know  what  to  do,  sir,  never  fear,"  said  Harold,  much 
offended. 

"Y'ln  vrill  pardon,  I  hope,  a  ])erhaps  inidue  fi'eedom  of  sug- 
gestion fr(jm  a  man  of  my  age,  wIkj  has  been  so  long  in  a  close 
conne;'iioii  with  the  family  iiffairs  -  a  —  T  have  n.'vei-  cf)nsid- 
ered  tii  it  connection  simoly  in  tlie  liglit  of  Imsiiiess  —  a  —  " 

'^■Daiiin  liim,  I'll  soon  lei.  him  know  that  /  do,"  thought 
Harold.  ]',ut  in  pi'oportiou  as  he  foinid  JerniynVs  manners 
annoyin'-T,  he  felt  the  necessity  (■■[  controlling  Jiimself.  He 
des])ised  all  iier-oiis  who  (hdeatrd  their  own  projects  by  the 
indulgence  oi'  momentary  impulses. 

"1  understand.  T  understand,"  he  said  aloud.  "You've 
had  more  awkwai'd  business  on  your  hands  than  usurdly  falls 
to  the  shai'''  f)f  a  family  hiwy -r.  A\'e  shall  set  everything 
right  bv  degrees.     But  no^v'  as  t(->  llie  canvassing.     I  've  made 


FELIX    HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  45 

arrangements  with  a  first-rate  man  in  Loudon,  who  understands 
these  matters  tlioroughly  —  a  solicitor  of  course  —  he  has  car- 
ried no  end  of  men  into  Parliament.  I  '11  engage  him  to  meet 
us  at  Duitield  —  say  when  ?  '' 

The  conversation  after  this  was  driven  carefully  clear  of  all 
angles,  and  ended  with  determined  amicableness.  When  Har- 
old, in  his  ride  an  hour  or  two  afterwards,  encountered  his 
uncle  shouldering  a  gun,  and  followed  b}'  one  black  and  one 
liver-spotted  pointer,  his  muscular  person  with  its  red  eagle 
face  set  off  by  a  velveteen  jacket  and  leather  leggings,  Mr, 
Liugou's  first  question  was  — 

"Well,  lad,  how  have  you  got  on  with  Jermyn  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  don't  think  I  shall  like  the  fellow.  He  "s  a  sort  of 
amateur  gentleman.  But  T  must  make  use  of  him.  I  expect 
whatever  I  get  out  of  him  will  oidy  be  something  short  of 
fair  pay  for  Avhat  he  has  got  out  of  us.     But  I  shall  see." 

"Ay.  ay.  use  his  gun  to  bring  down  your  game,  and  after 
tlui.t  beat  the  tliief  with  tlu'  bidt-end.  That's  wisdom  and 
justice  and  pleasure  nil  in  one  —  tnlking  fn'tween  oui'selvi's  as 
uncle  and  nephew.  I'ut  I  say.  Harold,  T  was  going  to  tell 
you.  now  I  come  to  tliiid-:  ol'  it.  this  is  rather  a  nast}'  business, 
your  calling  yourself  ;i  Itndical.  T  "ve  l)een  turning  it  over  in 
after-dinner  speeches,  l)ut  it  looks  awkward -- it 's  not  what 
people  ar(!  used  to  —  it  \\'ants  a  good  deal  of  Latin  to  make  it 
go  down.  1  shall  bi?  Avorried  about  it  at  the  sessions,  and  I 
can  think  o!"  n>thing  neat  enougli  to  carry  about  in  ni}'  })Ocket 
by  way  of  answer."' 

'•\Xonsense.  uncde  !  T  remendier  wliat  a  good  speechitier  you 
always  wei-e  :  y^n  "11  never  b(>  at  a  loss.  You  oid}'  want  a  feu- 
niore  eveniii'j-;  in  tldnk  o['  it."' 

"But  yon  "11  not  be  at!  ;eking  the  Church  and  the  institn 
ti'ins  of  the  country  —  you'll  not  be  going  tliose  lengths; 
you'll  keep  n]>  the  ludwai'ks.  and  so  on.  eli  ?  '' 

"Xo,  I  shan't  attack  the  ( 'hur(di.  only  the  incomes  of  the 
bishops.  })erha[is,  to  make  them  eke  out  the  incomes  of  the 
poor  clei'gy." 

"  Well,  well.  T  have  no  object  iai  to  that.  Xobody  likes  our 
Bishop;    he's    all    Gree-k    a,nd    greediuess  ;    Loo    proud    Lo   dine 


46  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

with  his  own  father.  You  may  pepper  the  bishops  a  little. 
But  you'll  res})er:t  the  constitution  handed  down,  &c.  —  and 
you  '11  rally  round  the  thro!ie  —  and  the  King,  God  bless  him, 
and  the  usual  toasts,  eh  ?  '' 

"  Of  course,  of  course.  I  am  a  lladical  only  in  rooting  out 
abuses."' 

"  That 's  tlie  word  I  wanted,  my  lad  I  "  said  the  Yicar, 
slapping  Harold's  knee.  ''  That's  a  spool  to  wind  a  speeeli  on. 
Abuses  is  the  very  word ;  and  if  aitvbody  sliuws  himself 
offended,  lie  '11  put  the  cap  on  for  himself.'' 

"  I  remove  the  rotten  timbers,"  said  Ilarctld,  inwardly 
amused,  '-and  substitute  fresh  oak,  tliJit's  all."' 

'•Well  done,  my  boy  I  By  Georgf:^.  you'll  be  a  speaker  I 
But  I  say.  Harold,  I  hope  3"ou  *ve  got  a  little  T.n.tin  left.  This 
young  Debaiiy  is  a  tremendous  fellow  nt  tiie  classics,  and 
walks  0]i  stilts  to  any  lengtli.  He's  one  of  tlie  new  Conser- 
vatives.    <  'Id  Sir  ^laximus  d(jes  n't  understiind  him  at  all.'' 

'•That  ^\•on't  do  at  thr-  hustings,"  said  Harold.  ••'He  "11  get 
knocked  off  his  stilts  }iretty  ouickly  there." 

'•'Bless  me!  it's  a.-^toni,~.hing  how  well  you're  up  m  the 
affairs  o(  the  countr}-,  ]iiy  lio}'.  lint  rub  U})  a  few  qnotaiiens 
—  '  0//er/  iiirpi:  hon'is  tlr'^ilai  (_'risj,i/ririn^  —  and  tluit  sort  of 
thing  —  just  to  show  I)ih:M'ry  v,  hat  yrai  could  do  if  you  liked. 
But  vdii  wi\[\{  in  rid(_'  on  '.'  " 

'•  A'es  :   I  iiave  an  iijijiointne'nt  at  Trcby.      Cood-by." 

"Ibi's  ;i  clcveri^h  eha])."  mnttei'ed  tin' Vicar.  ;:s  Harold  rode 
away.  •■•'A\'hen  he's  hail  ])liiity  of  English  exorcise,  and 
l;rought  out  his  knaekh'  a  bit.  he, '11  lie  a  Lingon  again  as  he 
uscfl  to  b(.'.  I  must  !-;•')  ;ind  se.>  Ikiw  Arabella  taki'S  his  luang  a 
IJadical.  It 's  a  little  ;iA\-ivV,-;;rd  ;  but  a  clergyman  must  ki>ep 
])eace  in  a  bimih'.  Confe;i;id  il  I  I'm  not  Iwjurid  to  love 
Toryism  b(-{ter  than  i:\y  n^\:\  !:i-h  ;ii:!l  blond,  .and  the  manor 
I  shoot  over.  Tluit 's  ;i  h'-;iri.iad-~]i.  l'>rutus-]iki'  soit  of  thing, 
as  if  I'l'ovidenee  ci.uld  n'l  tak  ■  eai'  oi'  the  country  without  my 
quarrelling  with  my  own  sister'.->  s(.)u  !  " 


FELIX   IIULT.   THE   KAUICAL.  <n 


CHAPTER   III. 

'Twas  town,  yet  country  too;  you  felt  the  '^•armth 
Of  (.■lusteriug  iiousx-s  in  the  wintry  tinio; 
Sujiped  witli  a  friend,  and  v,e:)t  by  Luitern  home. 
Yet  from  your  charnin;'  window  yuu  could  liear 
The  tiny  l)lcat  of  n(.'v,--ycancil  lanil)s,  or  see 
The  chiklreu  bend  iiesidc  the  hedgerow  banks 
To  phack  the  primroses. 

Treby  jNIacxa,  ou  -wliicli  the  Eefonn  Bill  had  tlirust  the 
new  honor  of  being  a  polling-place,  had  been,  at  the  beginning 
oi  tlie  century,  quite  a  tyiDical  old  market-town,  lying  in  pleas- 
a!)t  sleepiness  among  green  pastures,  with  a  rush-fringed  river 
meandering  through  them.  Its  principal  street  had  various 
handsome  and  tall-windoved  brick  houses  witli  wrJled  gardens 
behind  them  ;  and  at  the  end,  where  it  widened  into  the 
market-}dace.  there  was  the  cheerlud  rou;.da-stuccoed  front  of 
that  excellent,  inn,  the  Marquis  of  (irauby,  where  the  fanners 
put  up  their  gigi",  not  only  on  fair  and  market  days,  but  on 
exce}>tional  Sundays  when  the}'  came  to  church.  And  the 
cliurcli  was  one  of  thos;_;  lino  old  Jhigbi^h  structures  worth 
travelling  to  see,  standing  in  a  bro;:d  clv.ircliyard  with  ii  line 
(  !'  solemn  yew-trees  beside  it,  and  lifiiag  ;i  majestic  tower  and 
rpire  far  altovo  the  red-and-i)v;ple  roofs  of  the  town.  It  was 
not  large  enougli  to  hold  all  ti'  parishioners  of  ;i  jiarish  wliicli 
stretched  ovei'  dist;!nt  villages  and  hamlets  ;  l.iut  then  they 
were  never  so  unrcaMJiialde  as  to  wi-^;i  io  be  all  in  i\\.  once,  and 
had  never  comijlaineii  that  the  s;  ace  ol'  a  large  sithj-chaiud  was 
taken  up  l)y  tic  tembs  of  the  ])el:.iii'ry>.  anl  sind  in  liy  a  hand- 
some iron  screen,  bor  wlien  the  bi,;i']s  b.euciberiues  eeased  to 
pray  and  chant  in  t1ds  (dnu'cl;.  w'heu  ibe  lUt.'ssed  Virgin  and 
St.  (ii'egory  ^\•ere  cxps-lled.  tb'-  1  X-baM-ys.  as  lorils  of  tlie  mannr, 
naturally  came  next  to  rrovi'le-.ir"  a:;;!  took  the  ]!lace  of  tlie 
saints.  Lon.i;  beba'C  tliat  tir.ic,  indeed,  there  li  el  been  a  Sir 
ir.bix;inus  Debarrv  \v];o  had   be'ci:    at  the   fortif'.dng  of  the  old 


48  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

castle,  which  now  stood  in  ruins  in  the  midst  of  the  green 
pastures,  and  with  its  slieltering  wall  towards  the  north  made 
an  excellent  strawyard  I'or  the  pigs  of  W'ace  &  Co.,  hrewers  of 
the  celebrated  Treby  beer.  Wace  &  Co.  did  not  stand  alone 
in  the  town  ;is  prosperous  traders  on  a  hirge  scale,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  these  who  had  retired  from  business;  and  in  no  country 
town  of  tlio  same  small  size  as  Treby  was  there  a  larger  pro- 
portion of  families  who  had  handsome  sets  of  china  without 
handles,  hereditary  punch-bowls,  and  large  silver  ladles  with 
a  Queen  Aniie"s  guinea  in  the  centre.  Such  peo})le  naturally 
took  tea  and  supped  together  frequently  ;  and  as  there  was  no 
professional  nuin  or  tradesman  in  Treljy  who  was  not  con- 
nected by  business,  if  not  by  blood,  with  the  farmers  of  the 
district,  tin;  richer  sort  of  these  were  much  invited,  and  gave 
invitations  in  their  turn.  They  played  at  wiiist,  ate  and  drank 
generously,  j)raised  ^Nlr.  Pitt  and  the  war  as  keeping  up  prices 
and  religion,  and  were  very  humorous  al)Out  each  other's  prop- 
erty, having  nuich  the  same  coy  pleasure  in  allusions  to  their 
secret  ability  to  purchase,  as  blushing  lasses  sometimes  have 
in  jokes  about  their  secret  preferences.  The  IJector  was 
always  of  the  Debarry  family,  associated  only  witli  county 
people,  and  was  much  res])ected  for  Ins  affability  ;  a.  clergy- 
man who  would  have  taken  tea  witli  tlie  towns])('0}ile  would 
liave  given  a  dangerous  shock  to  tlie  mind  of  a  Treby 
Churclnmin. 

Sucli  was  1h(^  old-l'asliioned.  grazing,  ])rewing,  wool-packing, 
cliee^i'doading  life  of  Trrln'  ]\Iagiia.  until  llierc  befell  i\v\v 
condil  ions,  complicating  its  relation  with  the  I'cst  of  the  world, 
and  gradually  aAvakcnin^'  in  it  that  liighei'  consciousness  which 
is  known  to  laang  higher  pains.  f'ii'st  came  tic  canal  ;  nc^xt, 
the  working  of  the  coal-mines  at  Sjiroxt-on.  two  niih^s  olT  the. 
tow)i  ;  and  thii'dly,  the  discovei'}-  of  a  saline  s]iiing.  which 
suggested  to  a,  too  constructive  lirain  the  jiossibility  of  turning 
Treby  Magna  into  a  fashionable  walei-ing-place.  So  daring 
an  idea  was  not  originatc'd  by  a  native  Tr(ibian,  Init  by  a 
young  lawyer  who  came  from  a  distance,  knew  the  dictionaiy 
by  heart,  and  was  jn'obably  an  illegitimate  son  of  somebody  or 
otlier.      The  idea,  altlujULih  it  ])romised  an   inciea.se    of    wealth 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  49 

to  the  town,  was  not  Avell  receivod  at  first ;  ladies  objected  to 
seeinL,^  ■•  objects"  drawn  about  in  liand-earriages,  the  doctor 
foresaw  the  advent  of  unsound  practitioners,  and  most  retail 
tradesmen  concurred  witli  liim  that  new  doings  were  usually 
for  tlie  advantage  of  new  ^leople.  The  more  unanswerable 
reasoners  urged  that  Treby  had  prospered  without  baths,  and 
it  was  yet  to  be  seen  how  it  w^nild  ])rosper  witli  them  ;  while 
a  rcpoi't  that  the  proposed  name  for  them  was  F>eth(>sda  Spa, 
threatened  to  give  the  whole  affair  a  blasphemous  aspect. 
Kven  Sir  IMaximus  Debarry,  who  was  to  have  an  unpre- 
cedented return  for  the  thous;uids  he  would  hiy  out  on  a  pump- 
room  and  hotid,  regarded  the  thing  as  a  litth;  too  new,  and 
held  back  for  some  time.  J/ut  the  jiersuasivc  powers  of  the 
young  lawyer,  ^Ir.  ^Matthew  Jermyn,  togctlie)-  with  the  op- 
portune opening  of  a  stone-tpiarry,  triumphed  at  last  ;  tlie 
handsome  buildings  were  erected,  an  excellent  guide-book 
and  descriptive  cards,  surmounted  by  vignettes,  were  printed, 
and  Treby  ^lagna  became  conscious  of  certain  facts  in  its 
own  history  of  which  it  had  previously  been  in  contented 
ignoranc(\ 

But  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  Spa,  from  some  mysterious 
reason,  did  not  succtM-d.  Some  attributed  the  failui'c  to  th<> 
coal-mines  and  tlie  canal  ;  othei's  to  the  ])eace.  wIlIcIi  had 
had  I'uinous  (dfects  vv,  the  connti'v  ;  and  otheis,  who  disliked 
Jermyn,  to  the  (>riginal  folly  oi'  the  plan.  Among  thest'  last 
was  Sii'  ]\bixinius  himsidi'.  who  n(>ver  forgave  the  too  jiersua- 
siv(>  attorney;  it  was  rlerniyirs  fault  not  only  that  a  useless 
hotel  had  been  built.  \mt  that  he.  Sir  .'\bixinuis.  bcdng  strait- 
ened for  money,  h;id  at  last  let  the  building,  with  tlu'  adjacent 
land  lying  on  th(>  river,  on  a  long  lease,  on  the  su])])osit  ion 
that  it  was  to  be  turned  into  a  benevolent  college,  and  had  se(M) 
himself  subseijuently  ]io\veide.-;s  to  jirevent  its  being  tuiaicd 
into  a  ta|)e  manufaetoiy  —  a  hitter  thing  to  any  geinh-mau, 
and  es|ieeially  to  the  rejiresental  i ve  of  one  of  th(>  olde.-t  ianii- 
lies  in  I'higland. 

In  this  way  it  hapjienei]  that  Treby  ^fagna  gradually  passed 
frtnu  being  simply  a  I'espeetablr  market-town  — the  he;irt  of 
a  great   rural  district,  where   the   trade   was  only  >ueh   as  had 

VOL.     III. 


50  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL. 

close  relations  with  me  local  lauded  interest — -and  took  on  the 
more  complex  life  brought  by  mines  and  manufactures,  which 
belong  more  directly  to  the  great  circulating  system  of  the  nation 
than  to  the  local  system  to  which  they  have  been  superadded; 
and  in  this  way  it  was  that  Trebian  Dissent  gradually  altered 
its  character.  Formerly  it  had  been  of  a  quiescent,  well-to-do 
kind,  represented  architecturally  b}'  a  small,  venerable,  dark- 
pewi'd  chapel,  built  by  Presbyterians,  but  long  occupied  by 
a  sparse  congregation  of  Independent?^,  who  were  as  little 
moved  by  doctrinal  zeal  as  their  chuicii-going  neighbors,  and 
did  not  feel  themselves  deficient  in  religious  liberty,  inasmuch 
as  they  were  not  hindered  from  occasionally  slumbering  in 
their  pews,  and  were  not  oljliged  to  go  regularly  to  the 
weekly  }irayer-nieeting.  But  when  stone-pits  and  coal-pits 
made  new  handets  that  threatened  to  spread  up  to  the  very 
town,  wdien  the  tape-weavers  came  with  their  news-reading 
inspectors  and  book-keepers,  the  Independent  chapel  began  to 
lae  filled  with  eager  men  and  women,  to  whom  the  exceptional 
possession  of  religious  truth  was  the  condition  which  recon- 
ciled them  to  a  meagre  existence,  and  made  them  feel  in 
secure  alliance  with  the  unseen  but  supreme  rule  of  a  world 
111  wliicli  their  own  visible  part  was  small.  There  were 
Dissenters  in  Treby  now  who  could  net  be  regarded  by  the 
Chureli  })(Miph>  in  the  light  of  old  neiglibors  to  whom  the 
habit  of  going  to  ('lia])el  was  an  inneeent,  unenviable  iiihei'i- 
tance  along  with  a,  iiavtieular  house  ami  ge.rdeii,  a.  tan-yard,  or 
a  grocery  l)usiness  —  l)i.ss(Miters  wlio.  in  tlieir  turn,  without 
meaning  to  be  in  the  least  abusive.  s])oki'  of  the  high-bred 
IJector  as  a-  blind  leader  of  the  Ijliiul.  And  l)issent  was  not 
the  only  thing  that  the  times  hail  altered;  ]irices  had  fallen, 
])oor-rates  had  risen,  rent  ami  tithe  were  not  elastic  enough, 
an.l  tlie  larnier"s  iat  surrt)W  had  become  lean  ;  he  began  to 
speculate  on  causes,  and  to  trace  things  back  to  that  eanseless 
mystery,  the  cessation  oi'  oiie-poini!!  notes.  Thus,  wlien  po- 
litical agitation  swept  in  a  gnat  eurrent  three,. di  th"  country, 
Treby  ^bigna,  was  jirepared  lu  vibrate.  'I'lie  Catholic  Einaii- 
ciitatiou  liill  oot^ni'il  tht^  t-yes  ot  liidgiroors.  and  made  them 
U\.are'  huw    very    injurious   they  we;e  to  each  other  and  U)  the 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  51 

welfare  of  mankind  generally.  Mr.  Tiliot,  the  Cliurcli  spirit- 
tuercliant,  knew  now  tliat  ^ir.  Nuttwood,  the  obliging  grocer, 
was  one  of  those  Dissenters,  Deists,  Socinians,  Papists,  and 
Iladicals,  who  were  in  league  to  destroy  the  Constitution. 
A  retired  old  London  tradesman,  who  was  believed  to  under- 
stand politics,  said  that  thinking  people  must  wish  George  the 
Third  alive  again  in  all  his  early  vigor  of  mind;  and  even  the 
iarnun-s  became  less  materialistic  in  tlieir  view  of  causes,  and 
referred  much  to  the  agency  of  the  devil  and  tlie  Irish  llo- 
mans.  The  Kector,  the  ixcv.  Augustus  Debarry,  really  a  fine 
specimen  of  the  old-fashioned  ;iristocratic  clergyman,  preach- 
ing short  sermons,  understanding  business,  and  acting  liber- 
ally about  his  tithe,  had  never  before  found  himself  in 
collision  \.  ith  Dissenters ;  but  now  he  began  to  feel  that 
these  })eo})le  were  a  nuisance  in  the  parish,  that  his  brother 
Sir  ]\bixinuis  nuist  take  care  lest  they  should  get  land  to  build 
more  c]ia[)Lds,  and  that  it  might  not  have  been  a  bad  thing  if 
the  law  had  furnished  him  as  a  nuigistrate  with  a  power  Cif 
putting  a  std})  to  tbe  political  sermons  of  the  Independent 
prcai'lirr,  whieh,  in  their  way,  Avere  as  pernicious  sources  of 
intoxication  as  tlu'  beerhouses.  The  Dissenters,  on  tlieir  side, 
were  not  disposed  to  sacriticc  the  cause  of  truth  and  freedom 
to  a  t('!n]i()ri/.ing  nulilness  of  language;  init  tlifv  defended 
tlu'Hisclvi's  from  the  charge  of  religious  indiiTcrence.  and 
solcmidv  disclaimed  any  lax  ex|)ectati(.)ns  that  C  liliolics  were 
likely  tube  s;i\'e(| — urging,  on  the  contraa'y,  that  they  wei'e 
not  ton  lidjieful  ab(mt  I'l'otestants  wlio  adhei-ed  to  a  bloatei] 
and  v;orMl\-  I's-ebiey.  Tims  Treliy  jragna.  which  had  liveii 
([uietly  llireiieli  tht-  gn^at  eartlaiuakes  of  tlie  French  Kevolu- 
tion  and  tlie  Xaoxneoiiic  wars,  winch  had  remained  unmove(l 
by  tlie  "Ki-lUs  ol'  .Man."'  and  saw  littl(>  in  :\rr.  Cobbeii'.-. 
'■  ^^^M■kly  logi^ter"  except'  that  he  lu'ld  eccentric  views  about 
jiotatoes.  l,ie!4'an  at  last  [m  know  the  higher  pains  of  a  diin 
]>oliticad  consciousness:  and  tlie  develoiiinent  had  been  -.^Teatly 
h"l]ied  by  tiie  recent  a-'itarion  about"  the  l!elMi':ii  lU!!.  T"ry, 
W  lliu^  and  Kadical  diil  not  jiei'haps  become  <-learer  in  their 
iletinition  of  ea(di  other;  but  th-  names  seemed  Id  :ic(iuirc  sd 
stroTig  a   stamp    of    honor  or  iniaui}',  that    detinitious   would 


52  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

only  have  weakened  the  impression.  As  to  the  short  and  easy 
method  of  judging  o})inions  by  the  personal  character  of  those 
who  held  them,  it  was  liable  to  be  much  frustrated  in  Treby. 
It  so  happened  in  that  particular  town  that  the  Reformers 
were  not  all  of  them  large-hearted  patriots  or  ardent  lovers  of 
justice ;  indeed,  one  of  them,  in  the  very  midst  of  the  agita- 
tion, was  detected  in  using  unequal  scales  —  a  fact  to  which 
many  Tories  pointed  with  disgust  as  showing  plaiidy  enough, 
without  furthi'r  argument,  that  the  cry  for  a  change  in  the 
representative  system  was  hollow  trickery,  v  Again,  the  Tories 
were  far  from  being  all  oppressors,  dispose'!  to  grind  down 
the  working  classes  into  serfdom;  and  it  was  undeniable  that 
the  inspector  at  the  tape  manufactory,  who  spcjke  with  much 
eloquence  on  the  extension  of  the  suffrage,  was  a  moi'e  tyran- 
nical personage  than  open-handed  Mr.  Wacc,  whose  chief 
political  tenet  was,  that  it  was  all  nonsense  giving  men  votes 
when  they  had  no  stake  in  the  country.  On  the  other  hand, 
there  were  some  Tories  who  gave  themselves  a  great  deal  of 
leisure  to  abuse  hypocrites.  Radicals,  Dissenters,  and  atheism 
generally,  but  whose  inflamed  faces,  theistic  swearing,  and 
franknt'SS  in  expressing  a  wish  to  borrow,  (•(■rtainly  did  not 
mark  them  out  strongly  as  holding  opinions  likely  to  save 
society. 

The  Rrformers  had  triumjihed  ;  it  was  clear  that  the  wheels 
were  going  whither  thfy  \vere  pulling,  and  tiK'y  were  in  fine 
S})irits  foi'  exertion.  Rut  if  tljey  were  i)ulling  towards  the 
eountiv's  i-uiii.  there  was  tlie  more  need  bir  otliers  to  hang  on 
behind  and  get  the  wheels  1o  stiek  if  jiossilile.  In  Treby,  as 
elsewhere,  peojile  were  told  tliey  must  '•  rally  "'  at  the  coming 
election;  but  tliere  was  now  a  large  numbei'  oi'  waverers — 
m(;n  of  flexible,  praetieal  minds,  who  wei^e  not.  such  bigots  as 
to  cling  to  anv  view-  when  ri  good  tangible  I'eason  could  lie 
urged  against  them  ;  while  .--(.mie  I'egni'ded  it  as  the  jnost  neigh. 
])orly  tliin'^'  to  hold  a  little  with  both  sides,  and  were  not  sui'O 
that  tliev  should  I'ally  or  vote  at  all.  It  sei>nied  an  invidious 
tiling  to  vote  for  one  gentleman  rather  tlian  another. 

These  social  change-  in  Tr-by  ]iai'ish  are  comparatively 
public  matters,  and  this  history  is  chiefly  concerned  with  the 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  53 

private  lot  of  a  few  men  and  women  :  but  there  is  no  private 
life  which  ha.s  not  been  determined  by  a  wider  public  life,  from 
the  time  when  the  primeval  milkmaid  had  to  wander  with  the 
wanderings  of  her  clan,  because  the  cow  she  milked  was  one 
of  a  herd  which  had  made  the  pastures  bare.  Even  in  that 
conservatory  existence  where  the  fair  Camellia  is  sighed  for 
by  the  p.oble  young  Pine  ap[)le,  neither  of  them  needing  to 
care  about  the  frost  or  ram  outside,  there  is  a  nether  a[)paratus 
of  hot-water  pipes  liable  to  cool  down  on  a  strike  of  the  gar- 
deners or  a  scarcity  of  coal.  And  the  lives  we  are  about  to 
look  back  upon  do  not  belong  to  those  conservatory  species  ; 
they  are  rooted  in  the  common  earth,  having  to  endure  all  the 
ordinary  chances  of  past  and  present  weather.  As  to  the 
weather  of  1832,  the  Zadkiel  of  that  time  had  predicted  that 
the  electrical  condition  of  the  clouds  in  the  political  hemi- 
sphere would  produce  unusual  perturbations  in  organic  exist- 
ence, and  he  would  perhaps  have  seen  a  fulfilment  of  his 
remarkable  prophecy  in  that  mutual  influence  (jf  dissimilar 
destinies  which  we  shall  see  gradually  unfolding  itself.  For 
if  the  mixed  political  Cijnditions  of  Treby  T^lagiia  had  not 
been  acted  on  liy  the  })assing  of  the  Keforni  lUll.  ?.Ir.  Harold 
Transoine  would  not  have  presented  liimself  as  a  caiididate  for 
North  hoanishli-e,  Treby  would  not  have  ])eeii  a  })olling-])lace, 
Mr,  .Mattliew  Jermyn  would  not  have  been  on  affable  terms 
with  a  Dissenting  }ireacher  and  his  flock,  and  tlui  veneralde 
town  would  not  have  been  jslacardeil  with  liandbills,  more  or 
less  roiiipliiiientary  and  retrospective  -conditions  in  tliis  case 
essential  to  the  ••  where,"'  and  tlie  ••what."'  without  whi(di.  as 
the  learned  know,  there  can  be  no  event  whatever. 

For  exanijile,  it  was  through  these  conditions  that  a  young 
man  nanud  f^'lix  ITolt  made  a  considerable  ditference  in  tlie 
life  of  Harold  Ti'ansonie.  tliongh  natni'(>  and  iortune  scenie(l  to 
lia.M'  dom^  what  th(\v  t'ould  to  ke(>p  the  lots  of  the  two  men 
'[uite  aloof  fi'oni  e^ach  otliri'.  Felix  was  heir  to  nothing  b'-tter 
than  .1  (piack  niedicini'  ;  Ins  niotlier  livrd  uj>  a  bai'k  street  in 
Treby  Magna,  and  her  sitting-room  was  ornamented  witli  Icr 
best  tea-tray  and  stn'cral  framed  testimonials  to  tlie  virtitfs  '"^f 
Holt's  Catliai'tic^  Lozen<jes  and  Holt's  Kestorative  Eiixir.     There 


54  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

could  hardly  have  been  a  lot  less  like  Harold  Transome's  than 
this  of  the  quack  doctor's  son,  except  in  the  superficial  facts 
that  he  called  liimself  a  Radical,  that  he  was  the  only  son  of 
his  mother,  and  that  he  had  lately  returned  to  his  home  with 
ideas  and  resolves  not  a  little  disturbing  to  that  mother's 
mind. 

But  Mrs.  Holt,  unlike  Mrs.  Transome,  v/as  much  disposed 
to  reveal  her  troubles,  and  was  not  without  a  counsellor  into 
whose  ear  she  could  pour  them.  On  this  L'd  of  September, 
when  ]\Ir.  Harold  Transome  had  had  his  first  interview  with 
Jermyu,  and  when  the  attorne\'  went  l)ack  to  his  ollice  with 
new  views  of  canvassing  in  his  mind,  ^Irs.  Holt  had  put  on 
her  bonnet  as  early  as  nine  o'clock  in  the  morniii;.;,.  and  had 
gone  to  see  the  IJev.  llufus  Lyon,  minister  of  the  Independent 
f  :hapel  usually  spoken  of  as  ••  Malthouse  Yard." 


CHAPTER   IV. 

A  pious  and  painful  ])reacher.  —  Fullek. 

Mr.  Lvox  lived  in  a  small  house,  not  <juite  so  good  as  thi^ 
]iarish  clerk's,  adjoining  tin'  entry  which  led  to  tlic  Chapel 
Y;ir(l.  Tlu^  new  jirosperity  of  Dissent  at  Tn-by  luul  led  to  an 
eidarg(-ment  of  the  clia]M-l.  A\'lii(di  absoi'lied  all  exti-a  I'unds  and 
left  none  for  the  enlargement  ol'  the  ndnister's  ineonie.  He 
sat  this  moi'iiing.  as  usual,  in  a.  low  uii-staii's  rooin.  called  his 
stud\".  which,  by  means  of  a  idoset  cajiable  <>i'  l,f)ldin'-r  his  bed, 
sei'ved  also  as  a  sleepiug-rodiii.  'Idie  lin(ik--helves  did  n(jt  suf- 
fice f(jr  his  st(jre  of  nld  books,  which  ];;y  about  him  in  piles  so 
arranged  as  to  leave  narrnw  lanes  bitweiai  tlieni  ;  fur  tlie  min- 
ister was  much  given  to  walkinu;-  about  during  his  hours  of 
meditation,  and  \'!ry  naia'ow  ]ias<;i'^-es  \voidd  serv  for  liis 
stnall  legs,  unencundn'i'cd  liv  ;iny  ell;"!'  di'ajier}-  th;!n  his  Ijlack 
silk  stockings  and  the  flexible,  thouul:  prominent,  bows  of 
h'iacii   ribljou   tJuit    tied    his   kneed)ree(dii'S.       He  was   v/aiicinu' 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  55 

about  now,  with  lii.s  hands  chis})ed  boliind  him,  an  attitude  in 
which  his  body  seruied  to  bear  about  the  same  proportion  to 
his  liead  as  the  h)wei'  pari  of  a  sionc  Hermes  bears  to  the  car- 
ven  ima.u'e  th;it  crowns  it.  His  tacc  looked  ohl  and  worn,  yet 
the  curtain  of  Iniir  tliat  fell  irom  his  bald  crown  and  hung 
about  his  neck  retained  much  of  its  original  auburn  tint,  and 
ais  large,  Ijrown.  short-sig!;te(l  eyes  were  still  clear  and  Inught. 
At  the  first  glance,  ev«M'y  mi''  thougiit  him  a  very  odd-looking 
rusty  old  man  ;  the  free-sclujol  boys  often  hooted  after  him, 
and  calleil  him  •' Kcvelations  : ''  and  to  man\-  res])ectable 
Church  peo}ile,  old  l^you's  little  legs  iv.ul  large  head  seemed 
to  make  IJisseiit  ailditionally  })reposterous.  But  he  was  too 
short-sighted  to  notice  th(,)se  who  tittered  at  him — too  absent 
from  the  world  of  small  facts  and  petty  impulses  in  v.diich  tit- 
terers  liv(\  A\'ith  Satan  to  argue  ag;tinst  on  matters  of  vital  ex- 
perience as  well  as  of  church  goveruna'nt.  with  great  texts  to 
meditate  on,  which  seemed  1<^  get  d(>ejior  as  he  tried  to  fathom 
them,  it  h:al  never  ociairred  to  him  to  reflect  what  sort  of  image 
Ids  small  ]M'rson  made  on  tlie  retina  of  alight-minded  l.)cholder. 
Th(^  good  Rufus  liad  liis  ii'i'  and  his  egoism  ;  but  they  exists'd 
only  as  the  I'cd  licat  wlncii  uave  i'nree  to  his  Ixdicf  and  his 
te;udiiug.  He  was  susciipt able  concerning  the  tiaie  cillice  of 
deacons  in  the  '.iri:aitive  Church,  and  his  small  nervous  body 
was  jarred  froni  lavid  ro  loot  by  the  coiuais^ion  of  an  argu- 
ment to  wliicli  he  .-;aw  no  answer.  In  i'act,  the  only  moments 
wlun  he  could  be  said  to  1)"  really  conscious  of  his  body, 
were  wlu'ii  he  trembled  under  the  pressure  oi'  some  agitating 
th(,>ught. 

He  was  meditating  on  the  text  for  his  Sunday  morning  ser 
mon.  ■■And  all  the  peoiile  saiil.  Amen '" — ;i  laere  mustard- 
seed  of  a  text,  \\-hi(di  had  split  at  first  only  into  two  divisi(>ns, 
'■  \A'hat  A\'as  saad,"  and  •■  \\'lio  said  it:""  Imt  these  were  grow- 
ing into  a  niaiiy-braiiche(l  discourse,  and  the  ])reacher's  eycs 
dilattM.l,  and  a  smile  played  aJmut  iiis  mouth  till,  as  his  manner 
was.  when  he  felt  happily  in^i'ircd.he  had  l>egun  to  utter  his 
thMU'_,dits  aloud  ill  the  varied  measure  and  cadencc'  habitual 
to  him.  ehanging  from  a  ra}iid  imt  distinct  uudertcaic  to  a  loud 
cinjjhatic  r'/JIenfiDhlo. 


56 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 


"My  bretliren,  do  you  think  that  great  sliout  was  raised  in 
Israel  by  each  man's  waiting  to  say  'amen'  till  his  neighbors 
had  said  amen  ?  Do  you  think  there  will  ever  be  a  great 
shout  tor  the  right  —  the  shout  of  a  nation  as  of  one  man, 
rounded  and  whole,  like  the  voice  of  the  archangel  that  bound 
together  all  the  listeners  of  earth  and  heaven  —  if  every  Chris- 
tian of  you  peeps  round  to  see  what  his  neighbors  in  good 
coats  are  doing,  or  else  puts  his  hat  before  his  face  that  he 
may  shout  and  never  be  heard  ?  But  this  is  Avhat  you  do : 
when  the  s<n'vant  of  God  stands  up  to  deliver  his  message,  do 
you  lay  your  souls  beneath  the  Word  as  you  set  out  your  plants 
beneath  the  falling  rain  ?  No  ;  one  of  you  sends  his  eyes  to 
all  corners,  he  smothers  his  soul  with  small  questions,  '  Whixt 
does  brother  Y.  think  ? '  'Is  this  doctrine  high  enough  for 
brother  Z.  ?  '  '  Will  the  church  members  be  pleased  ?  '  And 
another  —  " 

Here  the  door  was  opened,  and  old  Lyddy,  the  minister's 
servant,  put  in  her  head  to  say,  in  a  tone  of  despondency,  fin- 
ishing with  a  groan,  "  Here  is  ]\[rs.  Holt  wanting  to  sjjeak 
to  you ;  she  says  she  comes  out  of  season,  but  she  's  in 
trouble." 

"  Lyddy,"  said  IMr.  Lyon,  falling  at  once  into  a  ([uiet  conver- 
sational tone,  '"if  you  are  wrestling  with  the  enemy,  let  me 
refer  you  to  J'^zckiel  the  tlurteenth  and  twenty-second,  and  beg 
of  you  n(jt  to  groan.  It  is  a  stuml)ling-block  and  offence  to 
my  dauglitcr ;  slie  would  take  no  brotli  yesterday,  because  she 
s;iid  you  liad  cried  into  it.  Thus  you  cause  th(^  trutli  to  be 
lightly  spolo'ii  oC,  and  make  tlu^  t>n(>my  I'cjoice.  If  your  face- 
ache  gives  liim  an  ad\'aiilage,  talvc  a  little  warm  ale  with  your 
meat —  I  dc  not  grudge  the  mone}'." 

"  If  1  thonglit  my  di-inking  warm  ale  would  hinder  ])Oor 
dear  Miss  Esther  from  s})eaking  light  —  but  slie  hates  the 
suadl  of  it." 

"  Answer  not  again,  Lydd}',  Init  send  up  Mistress  Hoit  to 
me." 

Lyddy  closed  tlu;  door  immediately. 

"I  lack  jrraee  to  deal  ^vitli  these  weak  sisters,"  said  the 
minister,  aii'aiu  thinkiuL;-    iloud.  and  walking.     ''  Their  needs 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  57 

lie  too  mucli  out  of  the  track  of  1113'  meditations,  and  take  me 
often  unawares.  Mistress  Holt  is  another  who  darkens  coun- 
sel by  words  without  knowledge,  and  angers  the  reason  of 
the  natural  man.  Lord,  give  me  ]>atienee.  My  sins  were  heav- 
ier to  bear  than  this  woman'.s  folly.  Come  in,  ?*lrs.  Holt  — 
come  in." 

He  hast(Mied  to  disencumber  a  chair  of  ]\Iatt]icw  Henry's 
Commentary,  and  begged  his  visitor  to  be  seated.  She  was  a 
tall  elderly  woman,  dressed  in  black,  witli  a  light-brown  front 
and  a  black  baud  over  her  forehead.  She  moved  the  chair  a 
little  and  seated  liei'self  in  it  with  some  em})luisis.  looking 
lix(>(lly  at  the  o])posite  wall  with  a  hurt  and  argumentative  ex- 
pression. Mr.  Ijyon  had  placed  himself  in  the  chair  against 
his  desk,  and  waited  with  the  n  solute  rc^^signation  of  a  patient 
who  is  about  to  undergo  an  operation.  But  his  visitor  did  not 
speak. 

'•  You  have  something  on  your  mind,  Mrs.  Holt  ?  "  he  said, 
at  last. 

'•  Indeed  I  have,  sir,  else  I  should  n't  be  here." 

'•  Speak  freely."' 

"It's  well  known  to  you,  Mr.  Lyon,  that  my  husl)and,  .Mr. 
Holt,  came  IVom  the  north,  and  was  a  memlx'r  in  Malthouse 
\'ard  long  beloi'e  //an  began  to  l)e  }>ast(ii'  of  it,  whicli  was  seven 
}'ear  ago  last  .Michaelmas.  It  's  the  truth,  Mr.  l^yoii.  and  i  "m 
not  that  woman  to  sit  here  and  say  it  it  it  was  n't  true." 

'•  Certainly,  it  is  true." 

•'  And  if  mv  husliand  liad  ])vci\  alivt^  when,  you  'd  come  to 
preach  ujioii  ti'ial.  lie  'd  have  been  as  gooil  a  judgi^  oi'  your  gii'ts 
as  Mr.  Nuttwood  or  Mr.  .Muscat,  though  wlietlnM'  hi' 'd  have 
agreed  with  sonu^  that  your  doctrine  wasn't  higli  iMiough.  ! 
can't  say.     J''oi'  mysell'.  1  'vc  my  ()])iiiion  about  higli  doctrine." 

"  \V;!s  it  my  preaching  you  came  to  s[)eak  about  '.'  "  said  tlie 
niinistiM',  hurrying  in  the  (lucstion. 

'•  Xo,  Ml-.  Lyon.  T  'm  not  tliat  woman.  I>ut  this  1  //•/// say, 
for  my  husband  died  b'-forc  your  time,  that  lie  had  a  wonder- 
ful gilt,  in  pi'ayer.  as  the  oM  icMirners  avcII  know,  if  au\'l)ody 
likes  to  ask  "eiii.  not  beliexuug  i.iy  woi'ds  ;  and  he  b.'!i''\':d  ]:im- 
Sclf  that  the   receipt   for  tli''  Cancer  Cure,  whiidi  1  "\e  seat  out 


58  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

in  bottles  till  this  very  last  April  before  Sejitember  as  now  is, 
and  have  bottles  standing  by  me,  —  he  believed  it  was  sent 
to  him  in  answer  to  prayer ;  and  nobody  can  deny  it,  for  he 
prayed  most  regular,  and  read  out  of  the  green  baize  Bible." 

Mrs.  Holt  paused,  appearing  to  think  that  Mr.  Lyon  had 
been  successfully  confuted,  and  should  show  himself  convinced. 

"Has  any  one  been  aspersing  your  husband's  character?" 
said  ^Ir.  Lyon,  with  a  slight  iniiiative  towards  that  relief  of 
groaning  for  wliich  he  had  reproved  Lyddy. 

"  Sir,  they  dared  n"t.  For  though  ho  was  a  man  of  prayer, 
he  didn't  want  skill  and  knowledge  to  find  tilings  out  for  lum- 
self  ;  and  that  was  what  I  used  to  say  to  mi/  friends  when 
they  wondered  at  my  marrying  a  man  from  Lancashii'p,  with  no 
trade  nor  furtune  but  what  he  "d  got  in  his  head.  But  my  hus- 
band's tongue  "ud  have  been  a  fortune  to  anyf)ody,  and  there 
was  many  a  one  said  it  was  as  good  as  a  dose  of  ])hysic  to  hear 
him  talk ;  not  but  what  tliat  got  him  into  troubL'  in  Lanca- 
shire, but  he  always  said,  if  the  worst  came  to  the  worst,  he 
could  go  and  preach  to  the  blacks.  But  he  did  better  than 
that.  Mr.  Lyon,  for  he  married  me ;  and  this  I  iclJl  say,  that 
for  age,  and  conduct,  and  managing  — '' 

'Olistress  Holt,"  interrupted  the  minister,  '-these  are  not 
the  things  A\diereby  we  may  edify  one  another.  Let  me  beg 
of  you  to  be  as  brief  as  you  can.     'Mx  tir.ie  is  not  my  own," 

•'•'Well,  Mr.  Lyon,  I've  a  riglit  to  speak  to  ]iiy  own  char- 
actei' ;  and  I'm  one  of  your  congregation,  though  Ian  not  a 
church  :afnd)er.  for  1  was  born  in  tlie  General  fJaptist  connec- 
tion :  and  a.s  for  l)L'ing  saved  without  works,  there 's  a  many, 
I  tiare  say.  can't  do  witliout  that  doctrine  ;  but  I  thank  the 
Lord  I  never  needed  to  })Ut  /////sidf  on  a  level  witli  tlie  thief  on 
the  cross.  I  "ve  don"  /////  duty,  and  more,  if  anybody  comes  to 
that ;  for  I  *vf  gone  witliout  my  bit  of  meat  to  make  lirotli  for 
a  sick  ncigli])or  :  and  if  tiiei'o  *s  any  of  the  churcli  mcniljers  say 
they've  done  the  saane.  I'd  ask  tliem  if  tiiey  liad  tlie  siid^iiig 
at  the  stomach  as  I  liave  ;  for  I  "ve  ever  strove  to  <lo  tlie  riglit 
thing,  and  more,  for  good-natured  I  always  was  ;  and  I  little 
thought,  after  i)eing  resjircted  by  everybody.  I  should  come 
to  be  reproaclied  by  my  own  son.     And  my  husband  said,  when 


FELIX   IIULT,    THE  KAUICAL.  59 

he  was  a-dying  —  '^Mary,'  he  said,  'th(!  Elixir,  and  the  Pills, 
and  the  Cure  will  support  you,  for  they  've  a  great  name  in  all 
the  country  round,  and  you  "11  jnay  for  a  blessing  on  them.' 
And  so  I  have  done,  Mr.  Lyon ;  ;iiid  to  say  they  're  not  good 
medicines,  when  they've  been  taken  for  iifty  miles  round  by 
high  and  low,  and  rich  and  poor,  and  nobody  speaking  against 
"em  but  Dr.  Lukin,  it  seems  to  me  it 's  a  Hying  in  the  face  of 
Heaven ;  for  if  it  was  wrong  to  take  the  medicines,  could  n't 
thf  blessed  Lord  have  stcjpixnl  it  ?  '' 

jVfrs.  Holt  was  not  givt-n  to  tears  ;  she  was  much  sustained 
by  conscious  unimpeachablencss,  and  by  an  argumentative  ten- 
dency whi(^h  usually  checks  the  too  great  activity  of  the  lach- 
rymal gland  ;  nevertheless  her  eyes  had  become  moist,  her 
lingers  played  on  her  knee  in  an  agitated  manner,  and  she 
finally  plucked  a  bit  of  her  gown  aiid  held  it  with  great  nicety 
iji'tween  her  thumb  and  finger.  Mr.  Lyon,  however,  by  listen- 
ing attentively,  had  begun  partly  to  divine  the  source  of  her 
Irouljle. 

''Am  I  wrong  in  gathering  from  what  you  say,  ^Mistress 
Holt,  that  y<'i:r  son  has  objfctcil  in  some  way  to  your  sale  of 
your  late  liusiiainrs  medicines  ?  "' 

"Mr.  Lyon,  lie  "s  masterful  beyond  everything,  and  lie  talks 
more  than  his  father  did.  I've  got  my  reason.  ^Mr.  Lyon,  and 
if  an^'bddy  talivS  sense  I  can  follow  him  ;  but  Felix  tallvS  so 
wild,  and  contradicts  his  motlid'.  And  what  do  you  think  he 
says,  after  givijig  np  his  'pi' -nlicesliip.  and  goi;ig  off  to  study 
:it  (i-lasgow,  and  getting  tlirough  all  liie  bit  of  money  his  father 
save-d  for  his  brin;4i!i;_;--up  —  wliat  has  all  his  learning  come  to  ? 
He  says  I'd  fiette'r  la-ver  <;ipen  my  lUblc,  for  it's  as  bad  poison 
lo  me  as  the  pills  ari-  to  ha.ll'  the  people'  as  swallow  'em.  You'll 
Hot  speak  of  this  again,  ^Nfr.  Lyon  —  I  don't  think  ill  enough 
of  you  to  believe  -///"t.  Yov  I  su[i[)ose  a  Christian  can  under- 
stand the  word  o'  God  without  ;:oing  to  Glasgow,  and  there's 
tr'-xts  upon  texts  about  ointment  and  medicine,  and  there's 
oiu;  as  nught  have  l)een  maile  for  a  reci'i})L,  ci  my  husband's 
—  it's  just  as  if  it  was  a  riddh',  and  Holt's  Elixir  was  the 
answer."' 

"Your  son  uses  rash -words,  '^Tistress  Holt,'  said  the  .r.in 


60  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

ister,  "  but  it  is  quite  true  that  we  may  err  in  giving  a  too 
private  interpretation  to  tlie  Scripture.  The  word  of  God  has 
to  satisfy  the  Larger  needs  of  his  people,  like  tlie  rain  and  the 
sunshine  —  -which  no  man  must  tliink  to  be  meant  for  his  own 
patch  of  seed-ground  solely.  Will  it  not  be  well  that  I  should 
see  your  sou,  and  talk  with  him  on  these  matters  ?  He  was  at 
cliapel.  I  observed,  and  I  suppose  I  am  to  be  his  pastor." 

"  That  was  what  I  wanted  to  ask  you,  ^Ir.  Lyon.  For  jjer- 
haps  he  '11  listen  to  you,  and  not  talk  you  down  as  he  does  his 
poor  mother.  For  after  we  'd  been  t(_)  cluqiel,  he  spoke  better 
of  you  than  he  does  of  most :  he  said  you  was  a  hue  old  fellow, 
and  an  old-fashioned  Puritan  —  he  uses  dreadful  language, 
,Mr.  Lyon  ;  but  I  saw  he  did  n't  mean  you  ill,  for  all  that.  He 
calls  most  folks'  religion  rottenness  ;  and  yet  another  time 
he'll  tell  me  I  ought  to  feel  myself  a  sinner,  and  do  God's  Avill 
and  not  my  own.  I>ut  it's  my  belief  he  says  first  one  thing 
and  then  another  only  to  abuse  his  mother.  Or  else  he  's  going 
off  his  head,  and  must  be  sent  to  a  'sylum.  But  if  he  writes 
totlie'Xorth  Loamshire  Herald'  first,  to  tell  everybody  the 
medicines  arc  good  for  ]iothing,  how  can  I  ever  keep  him  and 
myself  ?  " 

"  Tell  him  I  shall  feel  favored  if  he  will  come  and  see  me 
this  evening,''  said  jMr.  Lyon,  not  without  a  little  prejudice  in 
favcw  (if  the  young  man,  whose  htnguage  about  the  ])reacher 
in  Maltliouse  Yard  did  not  seem  to  him  to  be  altogetlier  dread- 
lub  '•' 3[e;iii\vliile,  my  fritnul,  I  counsel  you  to  send  iij)  a  sup- 
jilicididU,  wliieli  I  shall  not  fail  ti»  offer  also,  that  you  may 
r-  ''eive  n  sjiirif  of  humility  am'.  s\d)niission,  so  tliat  you  may 
not,  be  liindei'ed  frorii  seeing  and  fonowing  tlie  Divine  guidane.' 
in  this  matter  uy  any  false  lights  of  ])ride  and  obstinacy.  (>i 
this  more  Avht^n  ]  ha\"e  spoken  with  your  son." 

"I'm  not  1)1011(1  or  obstinate,  Mr.  L^'on.  I  never  did  say  I 
was  eA'erythiiig  that  was  bad,  and  1  never  Avill.  And  why  this 
trouble  should  be  sent  on  me  al)o\-e  e\'erybody  else  —  for  I 
liave  n't  told  you  all.  Vic'y^  made  liims.'lt'  a  journeyman  to 
]\Ir.  Trowd  tin'  watchmaker  —  alter  all  this  learning  —  and  he 
says  he  '11  go  with  ])alclies  on  his  knees,  and  he  shall  like  him- 
sell'  the   better.      And  as    tor   his   having  little   bcjys  to  teach, 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  61 

they  '11  come  in  all  \v(';!,thers  with  dirty  shoes.    If  it 's  madness, 
Mr.  Lyon,  it's  no  use  your  tallviiiL;-  lo  him." 

"  We  shall  see.  Perhaps  it  may  even  be  the  disguised 
working  of  grace  within  him.  We  must  not  judge  rashly. 
Many  eminent  servants  of  God  have  been  led  by  ways  as 
strange." 

'^  Then  I'm  sorry  for  their  mothers,  that 's  all,  ]Mt.  Lyon  5 
and  all  the  more  if  they  "d  been  wtdl-spoken-on  women.  For 
not  my  biggest  enemy,  wlu'ther  it  "s  he  or  she,  if  they  "11  speak 
the  truth,  can  tui'u  round  and  say  1  "ve  deserved  this  trouble. 
And  when  everybody  gets  their  due,  and  [)eoplc's  doings  are 
spoke  of  on  the  house-tops,  as  the  lUble  says  they  will  be.  it'll 
be  known  what  1  "ve  gone  through  with  those  medicines  —  the 
pounding  and  the  pouring,  and  the  letting  stand,  and  the  weigh- 
ing—  up  early  and  down  late  —  there  "s  nobody  ku.ows  yet  but 
One  that  "s  worthy  to  know  ;  and  the  pasting  o"  the  ]»rinted 
lab(ds  right  side  upwards.  There  "s  few  wonu'U  would  have 
gone  tlirougli  with  it;  and  it's  reasonable  to  think  it'll  be 
made  U])  to  me  ;  for  if  there  "s  promised  aiul  ]mrehased  bless- 
ings, 1  should  think  this  trouble  is  purchasing  "em.  for  if 
my  son  Felix  does  n"t  have  a  strait-waistc(jat  ])ut  on  him,  he  "11 
have  his  wa}'.  I)Ut  1  say  no  more.  I  wisji  you  good-morning, 
^Lr.  Lyon,  and  thank  you,  though  I  wtdl  know  it's  your  duty 
to  act  as  y(ju  "re  doing.  And  1  never  tr(Md>L-il  yt^m  jibout  my 
own  soul,  as  sonu'.  do  who  look  down  on  me  I'oi'  not  being  u 
cluii'eh   mend)er."' 

'•  Farewell,  .Mistress  Holt,  farewell.  T  pray  that  a  more  ])ow. 
erfnl  te;udier  Ihan  1  am  ni;i\   iiisj  met  you." 

The  door  was  c1os(m1,  and  the  mueh-tried  liufus  v.alked  aliout 
agaiji,  saying  aloud,  groaningly  — 

"This  woman  has  sat  under  the  (lospel  all  her  lif(\  and  she 
is  as  blind  as  a  heathen,  and  a,>  jn'oud  and  stitl'-neeked  a.s  a 
Pharisee;  yet  sh.e  is  one  oi'  (he  s 
that  even  Sara.  Ihe  ehosen  niolli 
a  spii'it  of  unbelief,  aial  iK-rl':'''  - 
jKissage  that  bears  the  imn,!-  ;:ii;;; 
the   wife  or  woman,  a.s  unlo  ihe  w . 

the   e.Ti  :ilest   eheek'    )ii;t  on   t  lit     l-e;ie 


I   W; 

if  (;., 

iteh    for.      ■ 

d"s     people. 

Tis  liaie 

showed 

.■iibh 

angel':   an 

d    d  i.  a 

sigiie 

1,    "djii  ]!'_;■    i 

h.^'ior    to 

r  ve>: 
■rn  ol 

■<el.'      !"oi  • 
■  tiiv   .:a-:!  : 

/'■rein  is 
'  ill. ill." 

62  FELIX  liOLf.   THE  KADiCAL. 


CHAPTER   V. 

1st  ("Citizen".     Sir,  tlicro  's  a  Imrry  in  tlif  voiiis  of  youth 

'i'li.it  in:ik('>  ;i  viii'  of  virtue  liv  excess. 
2d  CiTiZKN.       Wliat  if  I  lie  couiness  o[  our  tunlier  veins 

I'e  loss  c;f  vinue  ? 
1st  C'itizkx.  All  tliiiiLis  eool  with  time  — 

'I'lie  snn  iiself,  tliev  -.-iv,  till  he.if  slmll  find 

A  t,''eiier;tl  le\cl,  iiowiii-re  in  (.■xcess. 
2d  Citizen.       "1' is  a  ]}ooi'  cliinax,  to  my  weaker  thouglit, 

'J'liat  lutm'(-  miililliiigiier-.s. 

In  the  eveniiio:,  wlien  Viv.  Lyou  was  pxj)eetiiig  tlie  knock  at 
tlie  door  that  would  ainKiuni-f-  I'"(dix  Unit,  In,'  occu})i('d  hi.s 
cushioiiless  ariii-cliair  in  the  sittiu.c;- room,  and.  was  skiimuiiig 
rapidly,  in,  hi.s  sliort-siohti-d  way.  by  tli*^  liKht  of  one  candle, 
tlie  pages  of  a  missionary  rejKjrt.  ennttiiig  occasionally  a  , -flight 
'■Jlni-ni"  that  ap|i*-are'd  to  he  exjircssive  '  f  criticism  rather 
than  oi'  ajiprobation.  The  I'oom  \\as  dismally  furnished,  the 
only  ohjei^ts  indical  ing  an  intention  oi'  ornament  being  a  bcjok- 
case,  a  map  of  the  Holy  hand,  an  engraved  jiortiait  of  J^r. 
J)(jddi'idge,  and  a  black  bust  with  a  colored  face,  whi(di  for 
some  reason  or  olhia'  was  covered  w'liAi  grt.'en  gauze.  Vet  any 
one  whose;  attt'iiticai  was  quite  awake  must  have  bt/en  aware, 
even  (ui  eidinang,  of  Cfutahi  things  that  wt^re  in<'ongruous  with 
the  i^enera!  air  of  sombreiiess  [uid  privation,  '{'here  wasadeli- 
catt!  scent  (d' dried  rosedeaves  ;  the  light,  by  Avhadi  the  minis- 
ter was  reading  was  a  wax-canille  in  a  white  earthenv/aro 
candlestick,  and  the  table  on  the  o])posite  side  of  the  fireplaco 
lieM  a  dainty  worh-baskt:t  i'riileil  with  buuj  satin. 

Kelix  Ibdt,  when  he  entered,  was  not  in  an  obsej'vant  mood; 
and  when,  aitei-  seating  hiniseli,  at  the  minister's  invitation, 
near  the  little  tai<le  which  heiij  the  work  l^asket,  he  staled  at 
the  wax-candle  ()|)|)o>i1e  to  him.  he  did  so  without  an\-  wiaider 
or  consciousness  that  the  candle  \\  us  ncjt  ot  talluw.  Ihit  the 
minister's  sensitiveuess  gavt;  an(Aher  interjjretation  to  the  gazo 


FELIX   IIOJ.T,    THE   KADICAL.  03 

which  he  divined  ratlier  than  saw  ;  and  in  alarm  lest  this  in- 
consistent extravagance  sliould  obstruct  his  usefulness,  he 
hastened  to  say  — 

''  You  are  doubtless  amazed  to  see  me  with  a  wax-light,  my 
young  friend ;  but  this  undue  luxury  is  paid  for  witli  the  earn- 
ings of  my  daughter,  who  is  so  delicately  framed  that  the  smell 
of  talk)w  is  loatlisome  to  her." 

"  i  heeded  not  the  candh;,  sir.  I  thank  Heaven  I  am  not  a 
jnouse  to  have  a  nose  that  takes  note  of  wax  or  tallow." 

The  loud  abrupt  tones  made  the  old  man  vibrate  a  little.  He 
had  been  stroking  his  chin  gently  before,  with  a  sense  that  he 
must  be  very  quiet  and  deliberate  in  his  treatment  of  the  eccen- 
tric ynung  man;  but  now,  (|uite  unreflectingly,  he  drew  forth 
a  pair  of  s})ecta(des,  whieh  he  was  in  the  habit  of  using  wlum  he 
wanted  to  observe  his  interlocutor  more  closely  than  usual. 

'•And  1  mystdf,  in  i'act,  am  equally  indifferent,"  he  said,  as 
he  opened  and  adjusted  his  ghisses,  ''•  so  that  1  have  a  suriicicnt 
light  on  my  book."  Here  his  large  eyes  looked  discerningly 
through  the  spectacles. 

'•'1'  is  the  (luidity  of  tlu;  page  you  care  about,  not  of  the  can- 
dle."' said  ]-"elix.  smiling  ph'a-anlly  cnougli  at.  Ids  inspector. 
"  You 'I'c  tlunkmg  tliat  you  liave  a  roughly  written  page  before 
you  now."' 

That  was  ti'ue.  Tlie  miinster,  accustomed  to  tlie  respectahle 
air  of  }»rovincial  townsmen,  and  esjH'cially  tt>  the  sleelc  well- 
c]i])])ed  gravity  oi'  his  own  male  congregation,  felt  a  slight 
shock  as  liis  glasses  made  ]ierfectly  clear  Uj  liini  the  sliagg}'- 
headed,  large-eyed,  strong-limbed,  jierson  of  this  (luestionable 
young  man.  witliout  v,"aistcoat  or  cravat.  Hut  the  })ossibility, 
sup])orted  by  some  of  .Mrs.  Holt's  words,  that  a  di>giii.->ed  W(.)rk 
of  grace  miglit  hv.  going  iorward  in  the  son  oi  wliom  slie  com- 
plaiiii'd  so  bitterly,  cliecK>  d  any  hasty  interprt.'t,.tlons. 

"1  .d)stain  i'nnn  judging  by  tlie  outward  ajipearance  only.'' 
lie  answered,  with  liis  us'aal  simplicity.  '•  1  myself  liave  ex- 
perienced that  wlien  the  spirit  i^  imich  exei'cised  it  i.--  dillicuh 
to  remember  neck-bands  aiid  strings  and  such  small  acciileuts 
of  our  vestui'c.  wliich  are  iie\'eitheicss  decent  ami  needtul  so 
long  as   we  sojourn  in  the   ilesh.     And   you.   too,   niv    young 


64  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

friend,  as  I  gather  from  your  mother  's  troubled  and  confused 
report,  are  undergoing  some  travail  of  mind.  You  will  not,  I 
trust,  object  to  open  yourself  fully  to  me,  as  to  an  aged  pastor 
who  has  himself  had  mueh  inward  wrestling,  and  has  especially 
known  much  temptation  from  doubt." 

'•'  As  to  doubt,"  said  Felix,  loudly  and  brusquely  as  before, 
'■  \f  it  is  those  absurd  nu^dicines  and  gulling  advertisements 
that  my  motlier  has  be(>n  talking  of  to  you — and  I  suppose  it 
is  —  T  "ve  no  more  doubt  about  fheni  than  1  hav(!  about  pocket- 
picking.  I  know  there  's  a  stag(^  of  speculation  in  which  a 
]nan  may  doubt  whether  a  pickpocket  is  blameworthy  —  but 
I  'm  not  one  of  your  subtle  fellows  who  keep  looking  at  the 
world  through  their  own  legs.  If  I  allowed  the  sale  of  those 
medicines  to  go  on,  and  my  mother  to  live,  (;ut  uil  the  proceeds 
when  I  can  keep  her  by  the  honest  labor  of  my  hands,  I've 
not  the  least  doubt  tliat  1  should  be  a  rascal." 

"  I  would  fain  intpure  more  particularly  into  your  objection 
to  these  medicines,"  said  Mr.  Lyon,  gravely.  Notwithstand- 
ing his  conscientiousness  and  a  certain  originality  in  his  own 
mental  disposition,  he  was  too  little  used  to  high  principle 
quite  dissociated  from  sectarian  phraseology  to  be  as  immedi- 
ately in  sympathy  with  it  as  lie  would  otherwise  have  been. 
'•I  know  they  have  been  well  rejiorted  of,  and  many  wise 
persons  ]iav(;  tried  remcMlies  providentially  discovered  by  those 
who  are  not  regular  })liysiei;ins.  and  have  found  a  Ijlessing  in 
tlie  use  of  them.  !  may  mention  the  eminent  ^Ir.  AVesley, 
wlio,  tiKjugli.  I  hold  iK/i,  alto,u-et]ier  with  his  Anuinian  do(-trine, 
U'U'  with  the  usage's  oi'  liis  instituti(»n,  was  iievertheless  a  man 
of  (jod;  and  the  journals  of  vai'ious  Christians  Avliose  names 
have  hd't  a  sweet  saA'or  miglit  be  cited  in  tlie  same  sense. 
IVIoreover.  your  i'atlier,  wIkj  oi'iginally  concocted  tiiese  medi- 
cines and  h'lt  tliem  as  a  [)rovisiun  for  your  motliei",  was,  as  I 
understand,  a  man  wliose  walk  was  not  unfaithi'ul." 

"  ^Nl}'  fatlier  was  ignoi'ant.'"  said  I-'elix.  l)]untly.  "He  knew 
neither  tlie  coniplientidii  ot  tlie  human  system,  nor  the  way  in 
wiiich  drugs  count'-i-ict  e^ach  oiIkt.  Ignoi'anee  is  not  so  dan.- 
nable  as  humbug,  but  wlien  it  jirescribes  pills  it  may  hap- 
Iien  to  do  UKU'c  harm.     I  know  something  about  these  thinLrs. 


FELIX   IIULT,    THE   KADICAL.  65 

I  was  'prentice^  for  five  miserable  years  to  a  stupid  brute  of  a 

('ountiy  apothecary  —  my  poor  father  left  money  for  that  — 
he.  thought  nothing  ooulil  be  Hner  forme.  ]Mo  matter:  I  know 
that  the  Cathartic  I'llls  are  a  drastic  compound  which  may 
be  as  bad  as  poison  to  half  tlie  ])eople  who  swallow  them  ; 
that  the  Elixir  is  an  absurd  farrago  of  a  dozen  incompatible 
things;  and  that  the  Cancer  Cure  might  as  well  be  bottled 
ditch-water." 

IVLr.  Lyon  rose  and  walked  up  and  down  the  room.  His 
simplicity  was  strongly  mixed  with  sagacity  as  well  as  sec- 
rarian  prejudice,  and  he  did  not  rely  at  once  on  a  loud-spoken 
integrity  —  Satan  might  have  flavored  it  with  ostentation. 
Presently  he  asked,  in  a  rapid  low  tone,  '•  How  long  have  you 
known  this,  young  man  ?  '"' 

''  Well  put,  sir,"  said  Felix.  "  I  've  known  it  a  good  deal 
longer  than  I  have  acted  upon  it,  like  plenty  of  other  things. 
But  you  believe  in  conversion  ?  " 

"  Yea,  verily." 

"  So  do  I.     I  was  converted  by  six  weeks'  debaucher3^" 

The  minister  started.  '-Young  man,"  he  said,  solemnly, 
going  up  close  to  Felix  and  laying  a  hand  on  his  shoulder, 
'^speak  not  lightly  of  the  Divine  operations,  and  restrain 
unseendy  words." 

'"'I'm  not  speaking  lightly,"  said  Felix.  "TL'  I  had  not  seer. 
tliat  I  Avas  making  a  liog  of  myself  very  fast,  and  tliat  ])ig- 
wusli,  even  if  1  could  have  got  plenty  of  it.  was  a  poor  sort  of 
tiling,  1  siiould  never  iiave  looked  life  fairly  in  the  laeo  to  S(>e 
wliat  was  to  lie  done  with  it.  f  laughed  out  loud  at  last  to 
tliink  of  a  })oor  (l(>vil  lil;e  ino,  in  a  Seotcli  garrt-t.  witli  my 
stockings  out  at  lund  and  a  shilling  or  two  to  'ue  dissipatiHl 
uooii.  witli  a  smell  of  raw  haggis  mouid:ing  i'rom  b(>h)w,  and 
old  wonu'^n  brcatliing  gin  as  t]i(n'  passed  m(>  on  the  stairs  — 
wanting  to  tuiai  my  lif(>  into  easy  ])leasure.  i'lien  I  began  to 
set'  wluit  else  it  could  b(>  turu"il  into.  Xot  mueli.  ofi-iiaps. 
rius  world  is  iK^t  a.  verv  iiui'  jilai'c  for  a  good  many  of  the 
[icoplc  in  it.  I)Ut  I  'v(>  made  iijt  my  mind  it  shan't  be  tlie 
worse  tor  me.  if  L  can  help  it.  Tliev  nuiy  tell  me  1  eau't  alter 
the  wond — that  there  nmst  be  a  certain  nunil)er  of  sne.i].;-;  and 
v(M,    III  '; 


66  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

robbers  in  it,  and  if  I  don't  lie  and  lilcli  somebody  else  will. 
"Well,  then,  somebody  else  shall,  for  1  won't.  That  "s  the 
upshot  of  my  conversion,  Mr.  Lyon,  if  you  want  to  know  it."' 

Mr.  Lyon  removed  his  hand  from  Felix's  shoulder  and 
walked  about  again.  '•  Did  you  sit  under  any  preacher  at 
Glasgow,  young  man  '.' '" 

"  Xo :  1  hi'ard  most  of  the  preachers  once,  but  I  never 
wanted  to  hear  them  twice.'' 

The  good  Kufus  was  not  without  a  slight  rising  of  resent- 
ment at  this  young  man's  want  of  r'^verence.  It  was  not  yet 
plain  whether  he  wanted  to  hear  twice  the  preacher  in  ^Lalt- 
house  Yard.  But  the  resentful  feeling  was  carefully  re- 
pressed :  a  soul  in  so  peculiar  a  condition  must  be  dealt  with 
delicately. 

''And  now,  may  I  ask,"  he  said,  '-'what  course  you  mean  to 
take,  after  hindering  your  mother  from  making  and  selling 
these  drugs  ?  I  speak  no  more  in  their  favor  after  what  you 
have  said.  God  forbid  that  I  sliould  strive  to  liinder  you  from 
seeking  whatsoever  things  are  honest  and  honorable.  But 
your  mother  is  advanced  in  years  ;  she  needs  comfortable  sus- 
tenance ;  you  have  douljtless  considered  how  you  may  make 
her  amends  ?  '  He  that  p.rovidrth  not  for  liis  own  — '  I 
trust  you  respect  the  authority  tliat  so  speaks.  And  I  will 
not  sii}Mir>se  that,  after  Inung  tender  of  coi:scionce  towards 
sti'aiigers,  you  will  hv  carch^ss  towards  your  motlan-.  There 
be  indeed  some  wlio.  takiui:  a.  Jiiigiity  charge  on  their  shoul- 
ii"]\s,  must  pei'forc(>  leave  tbeir  households  to  I'rovidence,  cand 
to  tlie  caire  of  humbler  brethren,  but  in  such  a  case  the  call 
IMU.-t  be  clear."' 

*•  I  shall  keep  my  motliev  as  well  —  nay.  l)etter  —  than  she 
^la^  k'ejit  liiTSi-li.  Slio  has  alwavs  Iteeii  fiam-al.  AVitli  my 
wat(;li  ami  I'leiek  cl'Muiug.  aiid  teaeliing  (inc  or  t\vo  little  cha|)S 
that  I've  e-(;t  til  f'oine  to  ine.  i  eau  eaiai  enough.  As  i'oi 
me,  I  can  li\'e  on  bran  jun'ridge.  I  liave  the  stomach  of  a 
rlnnoceros." 

"■  B»it  for  a  young  man  so  well  furnished  as  you.  wlio  can 
questionless  write  a  go(jd  liaud  and  keep  book-;,  were  it  not 
well  to  seek  some  hii^dier  situation  as  clerk  or  assistant  ?     I 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  67 

could  speak  to  Brother  ]VIuspat,  who  is  well  acquainted  with  all 
such  openings.  Any  place  in  Pendrell's  Bank,  I  fear,  is  now 
closed  against  such  as  are  not  Churchmen.  It  used  not  to  bo 
so,  but  a  year  ago  he  discharged  Brother  Bodkin,  although 
he  was  a  valuable  servant.  Still,  something  might  be  found. 
Tiiere  are  ranks  and  degrees  —  and  those  who  can  serve  in  the 
higher  must  not  unadvisedly  change  what  seems  to  be  a  provi- 
dential appointment.     Your  poor  mother  is  not  altogether  —  '' 

"  Excuse  me,  Mr.  Lyon  ;  I  've  had  all  that  out  with  my 
mother,  and  I  may  as  well  save  you  any  trouble  by  telling  you 
that  my  nuud  has  been  made  up  about  that  a  long  while  ago. 
I  "11  take  no  employment  that  obliges  me  to  prop  up  my  chin 
with  a  high  cravat,  and  wear  straps,  and  pass  the  livelong  day 
with  a  set  of  fellows  who  spend  their  spare  money  on  shirt- 
pins.  That  sort  of  work  is  really  lower  than  many  handicrafts  ; 
it  only  happens  to  be  paid  out  of  proportion.  That's  why  I 
set  myself  to  learn  the  watchmaking  trade.  jMy  father  was  a 
weaver  first  of  all.  It  would  have  been  better  for  him  if  ho 
had  remained  a  weaver.  I  came  home  through  Lancashire  and 
saw  an  uncle  of  mine  who  is  a  weaver  still.  I  mean  to  stick  to 
the  class  I  belong  to  —  people  who  don't  follow  the  fashions." 

Mr.  Lyon  was  silent  a  few  moments.  This  dialogue  was  far 
from  plain  sailing;  he  was  not  certain  of  his  latitude  and  longi- 
tude. If  the  desjiiser  of  (Masgow  preachers  had  been  arguing 
in  favor  of  gin  and  Sabbath-ljreaking,  3Ir.  Lyon's  course  would 
have  ])een  clearer.  "  AVell,  well,"'  he  said.  delil)erately,  "  it  is 
true  that  St.  l*aul  exercised  the  trad'.'  of  tent-making,  though 
lie  was  learned  in  all  the  wisdom  oi'  the  Kabbis."' 

"St.  Paul  was  a  wise  man."'  said  b\'lix.  "  AVhy  sliould  I 
want  to  get  into  the  middle  che^s  bt^'ause  I  have  some  leari'- 
ing  ?  The  most  of  the  uiiddlo  class  are  as  ignorant  as  tlic 
working  })eople  about  everything  that  does  n't  belong  to  their 
own  Brummagem  life.  That  "s  how  the  working  men  are  le.lt 
to  foolish  devices  and  keej*  worsening  themselves:  the.  ]n:>t 
lieads  among  them  forsake  their  boi-n  comrades,  and  go  in  for 
a  liouse  with  a  high  door-stt'o  ;!iid  a  bi'ass  knocker."' 

^Iv.  Lyon  stroked  his  mouth  and  chin,  ])erha])S  because  he 
felt  some  disposition  to  smile  ;  and  it  would   not  be  well   to 


68 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 


smile  too  readily  at  what  seemed  but  a  weedy  resemblance  of 
Christian  unworldliness.  Oa  the  contrary,  there  might  be  a 
dangerous  snare  in  an  unsanctified  outstepping  of  average 
Christian  practice. 

'•'  Xeverrheless,""  he  observed,  gravely,  "  it  is  by  such  self- 
advancement  that  many  have  been  enabled  to  do  good  service 
to  the  cause  of  liberty  and  to  the  public  wellbeing.  The  ring 
and  the  robe  of  Joseph  were  no  objects  for  a  good  man"s  am- 
bition, but  they  were  the  signs  of  that  credit  which  he  won  by 
his  divinely  inspired  skill,  and  which  enabled  him  to  act  as  a 
saviour  to  liis  bretliren.'' 

'■'  (.'h  yes,  your  ringed  and  scented  men  of  the  people !  —  I 
won't  be  one  of  them.  Let  a  man  once  throttle  himself  with 
a  satiii  stock,  and  iui  'II  get  new  wants  and  new  motives.  Meta- 
morphosis will  have  Ijegun  at  his  neck-joint,  and  it  will  go  on 
liil  it  has  changed  his  likings  tirst  and  then  his  reasoning, 
whicii  Avill  follow  his  likings  as  the  feet  of  ahungr3-dog  follow 
his  nose.  1  '11  have  none  of  your  clerkly  gentilit}-.  I  might 
end  L)y  collecting  greasy  pence  from  poor  men  to  buy  myself  a 
fine  coat  and  a  glutton's  dinner,  ou  pretence  of  serving  the 
poor  men.  I  "d  sooner  be  ]*aley's  fat  pigeon  than  a  demagogue 
all  ti )ngue  and  stonu'ch,  th(jugh ''  —  here  Felix  changed  his 
voice  a.  little  —  '•I  should  like  well  enough  to  be  another  sort 
of  demagogue,  if  I  could."' 

" 'f  lieu  you  have  a^  strong  interest  in  the  great  political 
movcmcjits  of  tliese  timos  ?  ''  said  IMr.  Lj'on,  with  a  percepti 
ble  I'asliiug  of  the  eyes. 

'■'I  slioulil  tliiiik  so.  I  di'Spist'  every  man  wlio  has  not  —  or, 
liaviiig  it.  (lues  ji't  try  to  muM'  it  in  other  men.*' 

'•  i.'i'^'ht,  luy  young  iVieud.  ri'_;-bl;''  said  the  ]iuni>ter.  in  a  deep 
cordial  tone.  Inevilalily  his  mind  w:is  drawn  aside  fi'om  the 
inuiiiMliale  ei  iii^iilerai  k  ni  of  ]'"elix  Ibjlt's  spiritual  interest  by 
tlie  j)ro,-^[iect  of  jxilitieal  symj^atliy.  In  those  days  so  many 
instruments  oi"  (rod's  caus(!  in  tiie  ii'_;'ht  for  religious  and  polit- 
ical li!)erty  held  ei'i'dis  that  were  paiiifully  wrong,  wnd.  indeed, 
ii'reconeilable  willi  sal\-ation  !  '-That  is  my  own  viev,',  whieh 
f  maintain  in  the  faee  (,!"  some  opposition  from  brethren  vrho 
uonteijii.  tliat  a  share  in  public  movenifUoi)  is  u  iiiudrancc  to 


FELIX   IlOIvr,    THE   KADICAL.  69 

the  closer  walk,  and  that  the  pulpit  is  no  place  for  teaching 
men  their  duties  as  lueiuhtn's  of  the  commonwealth.  I  have 
had  much  puerile  blame  cast  upon  me  because  1  have  uttered 
such  names  as  Urougham  and  Wellington  in  the  pulpit.  Why 
not  Wellington  as  well  as  iJabsliakeh  '.'  and  why  not  Brougham 
as  well  as  Balaam  '.'  J)oes  God  know  less  of  men  than  he  did 
in  the  days  of  llezekiah  and  Moses  ?  —  is  his  arm  shortened, 
and  is  the  world  become  too  wide  iur  his  providence  ?  But- 
they  say,  there  are  no  politics  in  the  Xev/  Testament  —  " 

"  Well,  they  *re  right  enough  there,"'  said  Felix,  with  his 
usual  unceremoniousness. 

''What  I  you  are  oi  those  who  hold  that  a  Christian  minister 
should  not  meddle  with  jiublic  matters  in  the  pulpit?''  said 
Mr.  Lyon,  coloring.     '•!  am  ready  to  join  issue  on  that  point." 

'•  Not  I,  sir,"'  said  Felix ;  ''  I  should  say,  teach  an}"  truth  you 
can,  whether  it 's  in  the  Testament  or  out  of  it.  It  "s  little 
enough  anybody  can  get  hold  of,  and  still  less  what  he  can 
drive  into  the  skulls  of  a  pence-counting,  parcel-tying  genera- 
tion, sueh  as  mostly  till  your  chapels." 

'•  Young  man."'  said  3[r.  Lyon,  jiausing  in  front  of  Felix. 
He  spoke  vapidly,  as  he  a]\\'ays  did,  except  wlien  Iiis  words 
were  specially  weighted  with  envotion :  he  o^■erRowed  with 
matter,  and  in  his  mind  matter  was  always  completely  organ- 
ized into  woi'ds.  '•  1  speak  not  on  my  own  beliall',  iVir  not  only 
have  I  no  desire  that  any  man,  sluadd  think  of  nu'  above  tluit 
which  he  seeth  me  to  be,  but  I  am  aware  of  much  th;it  should 
juake  me  patient  nndri'  a  disesteem  resting  even  on  too  ha-ry 
a  construction.  I  speak  not  as  claiming  reverence  for  my  own 
age  ami  oilice — not  to  shame  you,  Init  to  ^\'arn  you.  ills 
gooil  that  you  should  use  jilainness  of  sjiOech,  and  f  am  not  of 
those  who  would  enforce  a  submissive  silence  on  the  young', 
that  they  themselves,  being  elders,  may  be  heard  at  large;  tor 
Elilui  was  the  youngest  of  Job's  Iriends,  yet  was  there  a  wise 
rebuke  in  his  words,  and  tlie  ugcd  l^li  was  t.iuglit  by  a  j'evda- 
tioii  to  the  boy  Samuel.  T  have  to  Ivce])  a  sjiccial  watch  ON'cr 
myself  in  this  matter,  inasmia'b  a,-^  1  have  ii  need  of  utterance 
whicli  makes  tlie  thoii'j;ht  within  me  seem  a^  a  prui -up  lire, 
until  I  have  shot   it  forth,  as   it  were,  in  arro\'.\    \",  cads,  each 


70  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

one  hitting  its  mark.  Therefore  I  pray  for  a  listeniug  spirit, 
which  is  a  great  mark  of  grace.  Xevertheless,  my  young 
friend,  I  am  hound,  as  I  said,  to  warn  you.  The  temptations 
that  most  beset  tliose  who  have  great  natural  gifts,  and  are 
wise  after  the  flesh,  are  pride  and  scorn,  more  particularly  to- 
wards tliose  weak  things  of  the  world  which  liave  been  cliosen 
to  confound  the  tilings  whiidi  are  mighty.  The  scornful  nos- 
tril and  the  high  head  gather  not  the  odors  that  lie  on  the 
track  of  truth.  The  mind  that  is  too  ready  at  contem|)t  and 
reprobation  is  —  " 

Here  the  door  ojicned,  and  ^Iv.  Lyon  paused  to  look  round, 
but  seeing  only  Lyddy  with  the  tea-tray,  he  went  on  — 

"  Is,  I  may  say,  as  a  clenched  fist  that  can  give  Ijhjws,  but 
is  shut  up  from  receiving  and  liolding  aught  that  is  precious 
—  though  it  were  heaven-sent  manna." 

"I  understand  you,  sir,"  said  Felix,  good-huinoredlv,  putting 
out  his  hand  to  the  little  man,  who  had  come  clos*;  to  him  as 
he  delivered  tlie  last  sentence  with  sudden  empliasis  and  slow- 
ness.    "  l!ut  I  'm  not  inclined  to  clench  my  list  at  you." 

"Well,  well,"  said  Mr.  Lyon,  shaking  the  proffered  liand, 
"we  shall  see  more  of  each  other,  and  I  trust  shall  have  much 
profitable  communing.  You  will  stay  and  have  a  dish  of  tea 
with  us  :  we  take  the  meal  late  on  Thursdays,  because  my 
daughter  is  detained  by  giving  a  lesson  in  tlu'  J'^i'dich  tongue. 
But  she  is  doubtless  returned  now,  and  will  presently  come 
and  ])our  out  tea  for  us." 

"  Thanlv  you,  I'll  stay,"  said  Felix,  not  from  any  curiosity 
to  see  the  minister's  daughter,  but  from  a  liking  Joi-  tlie  society 
of  the  minister  himself  —  for  his  quaint  looks  and  ways,  and 
the  trans])arency  of  liis  talk.  v\-hich  gave  a,  charm  even  to  his 
Weaknesses.  I'he  daughter  was  ])robal)ly  some  ])rim  Miss,  neat, 
sensible,  ]iious,  but  all  in  a  small  feminine  way.  in  whicli  ]'\'lix 
was  no  njr)]-e  interested  than  in  Dorcas  meetings,  biogi'aphies  of 
devout  women,  and  thnt  amount  of  ornamental  knitting  which 
was  not  inconsistent  with  Nemconforming  sei'iousness. 

"I'm  perlia};s  a  little  too  fond  of  banging  and  sniasliing," 
he  went  on  ;  "a  ])hrenol(igisr  at  (Jla^gow  told  me  I  had  large 
veneration  ;  another  man   there,  who  knew   me,    laughed   out 


FELIX    HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  7t 

iind  said  E  was  the  most  blaspluunous  iconoclast  living.  'That,' 
says  uiy  phrenologist,  '  is  Ijecause  of  his  large  ideality,  which 
prevents  him  from  finding  anything  perfect  enough  to  be  ven- 
erated.' Of  course  I  put  my  ears  down  and  wagged  my  tail 
at  that  stroking." 

"  Yes,  yes ;  I  have  had  my  own  head  explored  with  some- 
what similar  results.  It  is,  I  iVai-,  but  a  vain  show  of  fulfill- 
ing the  heathen  precept,  'Know  thyself,'  and  too  ol'ten  leads 
to  a  self-estimate  which  will  subsist,  in  the  absence  of  that 
fruit  by  which  alone  the  quality  of  the  tree  is  made  evident. 
Nevertheless —  Esther,  my  dear,  tliis  is  Mr.  Holt,  whose 
ac(puT.iiitaiice  I  have  even  now  been  making  with  more  than 
orilinary  interest.     He  will  take  tea  with  us."' 

Esther  bowed  slightly  as  she  walked  across  the  room  to 
fetch  the  candle  and  place  it  near  her  tray.  Felix  rose  and 
bowed,  also  with  an  air  of  indifference,  which  was  perhaps 
exaggerated  by  the  fact  that  ho  was  inwardly  surprised.  The 
minister's  daughter  was  not  tin;  sort  of  person  he  expected. 
She  was  (piite  incongruous  witli  his  ncjfion  of  ministers' 
daughters  in  gcnci'al ;  and  though  he  had  expected  something 
nowise  delightful,  the  inctougruity  repelled  him.  A  very 
delicate  scent,  the  faint  suggesiion  of  a  garden,  was  wafted 
as  she  went.  He  would  not  ol)serve  lier,  but  he  had  a  sense  of 
an  elastic  walk,  the  tread  of  snuiU  i'evU  ii  long  neck  arid  a 
liiglL  crown  of  shining  brown  pL'.its  with  curls  that  floated 
backward  —  things,  in  short,  that  sugg("Sted  a  fine  lady  to  him, 
and  determintHl  him  to  notice  her  as  little  as  jiossible.  A  line 
lady  was  always  a  sort  of  S[uin-giass  affair  —  not  natui'al.  and 
with  no  beauty  for  him  as  art ;  but  a  fine  lady  as  the  daughter 
of  this  rusty  old  Puritan  w;is  especiall}'  offensive. 

"  Nevertheless, "'  continued  Air.  Lyon,  who  I'andy  let  drop 
any  thread  of  discourse,  '-tliat  phrenologieal  science  is  not 
irre('(.)ncilablo  with  the  r(>veal-'d  dispensatious.  And  it  is 
undeniable  that  W'e  have  oui-  varying  native  (lis})Ositi<>ns 
which  even  grace  will  not  oblitei'ate.  I  myself,  fioin  my 
youth  up.  have  been  given  to  i]iie,;ti<iu  too  curiously  eoncerr.- 
ing  the  truth  —  to  examine  and  sift  the  medicine  of  the  soul 
rather  than  to  apply  it." 


72  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

"  If  your  truth  happens  to  be  such  medicine  as  Holt's  Pills 

and  Elixir,  the  h'ss  yuu  swallow  ol  it  the  better,"  said  Felix. 
"  But  truth-vendors  and  medicine-vendors  usually  recommend 
swallowing.  When  a  man  sees  his  livelihood  in  a  pill  or  a 
proposition,  he  likes  to  have  orders  tor  the  dose,  and  not 
curious  inquiries."' 

This  s}jeech  verged  on  rudeness,  but  it  was  delivered  with  a 
brusque  openness  that  implied  the  absence  of  any  personal 
intention.  The  minister's  daughter  was  now  for  the  iirst 
time  startled  into  loolcing  at  Felix.  Ihit  her  survt-y  of  this 
unusual  speaker  was  soon  made,  autl  she  relieved  her  father 
from  the  need  to  reply  by  saying  — 

'•'  The  tea  is  poured  out,  father." 

That  was  the  signal  for  iMr.  L}"on  to  advance  towards  the 
table,  raise  his  right  hand,  and  ask  a  blessing  at  sufficient 
length  for  Esther  to  glance  at  tlni  visitor  again.  There 
seemed  to  be  no  danger  of  his  looking  at  luu'  :  he  was  observ- 
ing her  father.  .Slie  had  time  to  remark  that  he  ^vas  a 
})eculiar-looking  person,  but  not  insignihcant,  ^\■hich  was  the 
quality  that  most  hopelessly  consigned  a  man  to  perdition. 
He  was  massively  built.  The  striking  points  in  his  face  were 
large  clear  gray  eyes  and  full  lips. 

'•'  Will  you  draw  up  to  the  table,  :Mr.  Holt  ? "  said  the 
nrinister. 

In  tlie  act  of  rising,  Felix  pushcil  back  his  cliair  too  sud- 
denly against  the  I'ickety  tabh^  close!  Ijy  him,  and  down  went 
llie  bluc-frillfd  \vork-l;;i.d-;et.  Hying  o})en,  and  di>pfi.-^ing  on  the 
il'Hjv  recF,  {liiiublf.  mu.-lin-v.-ork.  a  small  s(,'alc'd  bijttlc  of  atta 
of  rose,  and  .-oiuetliing  lu'avier  than  thi-se  —  a  diuculecimo 
volumi^  which  fell  chjse  to  him  Ijctwecn  the  table  and  the 
fender. 

■■()h  my  stars  I"  .said  I'dix.  '•  i  beg  3-our  pardon."  b^sther 
had  already  started  up.  ami  witli  woiiderfnl  qid"l;:i":-s  li.-nl 
pickc'd  up  half  tlie  small  rolliii;.,^  tlii'iu's  wJiile  i-"e]:;:  v\-as  lii'ting 
tlie  b.'isket  and  tlie  bi;ijk.  'Idns  last  had  o^ien-:;,  aiid  J];:d  its 
leaves  crushe'd  in  ral]i!i'_r:  and.  \vilh  the  instinct  d' a  booki  ;h 
man,  h(.'  saw  nothiii'j,'  inure  pressing  to  be  dcjni-  tli.m  to  flatten 
the  conie'i'S  (d  the  leaves. 


FELIX   JIOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  73 

"  Byron's  Poems  ! "  he  said,  in  a  tone  of  disgust,  while 
Kstht-r  was  recovering  all  the  oilier  arlichis.  "•'ilie  Dvcmu' 
—  he 'd  better  have  been  asleep  and  snoring,  ^^'hat !  do  you 
stuii'  your  memory  with  IJyron,  3Liss  Lyon  '.'  " 

Felix,  on  his  side,  was  led  at  last  to  look  straight  at  Esther, 
but  it  was  with  a  strong  denunciatory  and  pedagogic;  iiiten- 
liou.  Of  course  he  saw  more  clearly  thau  ever  that  she  was  a 
line  lady. 

She  reddened,  drew  up  her  long  neck,  and  said,  as  she 
retreated  to  her  chair  again  — 

"I  have  a  great  admiration  tor  liyron." 

Mr.  Lyon  had  paused  in  the  act  of  drawing  his  chair  to  the 
tea-table,  and  was  lookijig  on  at  tliis  scene,  wrinkling  the 
corners  of  his  eyes  with  a  pe]'[)lexed  smile.  Esther  \V(tu]d 
not  have  wished  him  to  knovv'  anything  about  the  volume  of 
r>yron,  but  she  was  too  proud  to  sliow  a!iy  concern. 

'•He  is  a  worldly  and  vain  writer,  I  fear/"'  sni'l  ^Mr.  Lyon. 
lie  knew  scarcely  anything  of  the  p(jc:t,  whose  bool-cs  em- 
bodied the  faith  and  ritual  of  many  young  hulies  and 
gentlenu'U. 

'•A  misanthropic  debauchee,"  said  Felix,  lilting  a  cliair 
with  one  hand,  and  Imlding  the  book  0})en  in  the  olhcr, 
"whose  notion  ot  a  hero  was  lliat  he  slumld  disoriicr  his 
stomach  and  despise  mankind.  Jlis  corsairs  and  rcmegades, 
liis  A1})S  and  ]\lunfreds,  arc  the  nmst  paltry  pnppets  that  were 
ever  pulled  Isy  the  strings  ot  lust  and  pride."' 

'•  l[;ind  the  book  to  me,"'  said  i\!r.  Lyon. 

'•Let  me  l)eg  111'  }'(iu  to  put  it  aside  till  affci'  tea,  fath'T,"' 
said  Esther.  ••' H()weA-(U'  objectii.nalih'  Mr.  Ib'It  laa.y  tiiid  its 
]i:iges,  they  would  certainly  be  made  worse  li\-  being  greax'ii 
with  bread-and-butter." 

'■  That  is  true,  my  dear/"' said  ^)r.  Ly<Mi.  laying  down  ;he 
book  on  the  sma.ll  table  ])ehiiul  liim.  He  saw  that  his  daii^li- 
t"r  was  angry. 

■■Ho.  ho'"'  thought  Felix,  "her  fatlier  is  rriglitcnr,]  at 
her.  How  came  iu.~  to  !;av'.'  ss;ch  a  nic(>-sf;epping,  iniig  n";-Kci' 
j.caco.-k  for  his  dauglilcc '.'  \.\i\  -li.'  shall  sec  tlia:.  :  an;  net 
;.';ig!n.fn;'d."     'J'heu    he    saidi    aloud,   "1    .■h.ull    ;:!>    to  know 


T4  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

bow  you  will  justify  your  admiration  for  such  a  writer,  Miss 
Lyon." 

^'  I  should  not  attempt  it  with  you,  ]\[r.  Holt/'  said  Esther. 
"You  have  such  strong  words  at  command,  that  they  make 
the  smallest  argument  seem  formidablp.  If  Iliad  ever  met 
the  gi:int  Cormoran,  I  should  have  made  a  point  of  agreeing 
with  him  in  his  literary  opinions."' 

Esther  h;id  that  excellent  thing  in  woman,  a  soft  voice  with 
a  clear  fluent  utterance.  Her  sauciness  was  always  charming 
because  it  was  without  emphasis,  and  was  accompanied  with 
graceful  little  turns  of  the  head. 

Felix  laughed  at  her  thrust  with  young  heartiness. 

"  My  daughter  is  a  critic  of  words,  ]\Ir.  Holt,"  said  the 
minister,  smiling  complacently,  ■'•  and  often  corrects  mine  on 
the  ground  of  niceties,  which  I  profess  are  as  dark  to  me 
as  if  they  were  the  reports  of  a  sixth  sense  which  I  possess 
not.  I  am  an  eager  seeker  for  precision,  and  woiUd  fain  find 
language  subtle  enough  to  follow  the  utmost  intricacies  of  the 
soul's  }.)athways,  but  I  see  not  why  a  round  word  that  means 
S(une  object,  made  and  blessed  by  the  Creator,  should  be 
Ijranded  and  banished  as  a  malefactor." 

"'(.)h,  your  niceties  —  I  know  what  they  arc,"  said  Felix,  in 
hi^  \i^ui\\  fort issimo.  "  Tliey  all  go  on  your  system  of  make- 
believe.  'Fiottenness '  may  suggest  Avhat  is  un.pleasant,  so 
you'd  better  say  'sugar-})lunis,'  or  somethir.g  else  such  a  long 
way  off  tlie  fact  that  nobody  is  obliged  to  think  of  it.  Those 
are  your  roundabout  eupliuisuis  that  dress  u])  swindling  till  it 
looks  as  well  as  honesty,  and  shoot  witli  boiled  pease  instead 
of  bullets.     I  hate  your  gentlemanly  speakers." 

"Then  you  woidd  not  like  Mr.  Jermyn,  I  tliink,"  said 
Estliei'.  "'That  reniinds  nie,  father,  that  to-day,  when  I  was 
giviiig  r\Iis3  Louisa  Jermyn  her  lesson,  'Mv.  Jermyn  came  in 
and  spoke  to  me  with  grand  })oliteness,  and  asked  me  at  Avhat 
times  you  were  likely  to  lie  diseng;igi  d.  because  he  wished  to 
make  your  better  accptaintance'.  and  considt  you  on  inatters 
of  im})ortancf!.  He  never  took  the  least  notice  of  me  befora 
Can  you  guess  the  reason  of  Ins  sudden  ceremoinousness  ?" 

"  Xa}-,  child,"  said  the  minister,  pouderiugly. 


FELIX   HOLT.    THE    RADICAL.  75 

"  Politics,  of  course,"  said  Felix.  "  He 's  on  some  com- 
mittee. An  election  is  coming.  Universal  peace  is  declared, 
and  the  foxes  have  a  sincere;  interest  in  prolonging  the  lives 
of  the  poultry.     Eh,  Mr.  Lyon  ?     Is  n"t  that  it  ?  " 

'•'  Nay,  not  so.  He  is  the  close  ally  of  the  Transome  family, 
who  are  blind  hereditary  Tories  like  the  Debarrys,  and  will 
drive  their  tenants  to  the  poll  as  if  they  were  sheep.  And 
it  has  even  been  hinted  that  the  heir  who  is  coming  from 
the  East  may  be  another  Tory  candidate,  and  coalesce  with 
the  younger  Debarry.  It  is  said  that  he  has  enormous 
wealth,  and  could  purchase  every  vote  in  the  county  that  has 
a  price." 

"  He  is  come,"  said  Esther.  "  I  heard  ]Miss  Jermyn  tell  her 
sister  that  she  had  seen  him  going  out  of  her  father's  room." 

'"T  is  strange,"  said  Mr.  Lyon. 

"  Something  extraordinary  must  have  happened."  said  Es- 
ther, '•  for  ^Ir.  -Jermyn  to  intend  courting  i;s.  ]\Iiss  Jermyn 
said  to  mi'  only  the  other  day  that  she  could  not  think  how  I 
came  to  be  so  w(dl  educated  and  ladylike.  Slie  always  thought 
Dissenters  wei-e  ignorant,  vulgar  peojile.  I  said.  So  they 
were,  usually,  and  Church  people  als(j  in  small  towns.  She 
considers  lu'rself  a  judge  of  what  is  ladylike,  and  she  is  vul- 
garity personitied  — -  with  large  feet,  and  the'  most  odious 
scent  on  her  handkercliiei'.  ;ind  a  bonnet  that  looks  like  'The 
Fashion'  ju'intrd  in  e;i])it;d  letters." 

"  One  sort  of  luie  hahism  is  as  good  as  another,"  said 
Felix. 

'•'.IS'o.  indeed.  Pardon  me."  said  Estlier.  '^  A  real  fine- 
lady  does  not  wear  clothes  tlint  flare  in  ])eo])le"s  eyes,  or 
use  im])ortunate  seeuts.  or  niake  a  noise  as  slie  moves:  she 
is  something  reliiied  and  gi'aceful  antl  eliarming.  and  never 
obtrusive." 

"Oh  yes,''  said  Felix.  conteiii]ituously.  '"And  she  reails 
P>yron  also,  and  admires  OldMc  Ilarold  —  gentlemen  of  un- 
speakabli'  woes,  wlio  emjiloy  a  liairdresser,  and  loolv  seriously 
at  themselves  in  tlie  glass." 

P'lstlier  reddeiifib  aiid  crave  a  little  ti^ss.  Felix  wfiit  on 
triumj)hantiy,      *' A  hue   iao\    i.    a  siparrei-iieadcd   rhing,  wich 


76  FELIX   HOLT,   THE  EADICAL. 

small  airs,  and  small  notions,  about  as  applicable  to  the  busi- 
ness of  life  as  a  pair  of  tweezers  to  the  clearing  of  a  forest. 
Ask  your  father  what  those  old  persecuted  emigrant  Puritans 
■would  have  done  with  fine-lady  wives  and  daughters." 

"Oh,  there  is  no  danger  of  such  misalliances,"  said  Esther. 
''  Men  who  are  unpleasant  companions  and  make  frights  of 
themselves,  are  sure  to  get  wives  tasteless  enough  to  suit 
them." 

'^  Esther,  ray  dear,"  said  Mr.  Lyon,  '•  let  not  your  playful- 
ness betray  you  into  disres])ect  towards  those  venerable  pil- 
grims. They  struggled  and  endured  in  order  to  cherish  and 
plant  anew  the  seeds  of  scriptural  doctrine  and  of  a  pure 
discipline.'' 

"  Yes.  I  know,"  said  Esther,  hastily,  dreading  a  discourse 
on  the  pilgrim  fathers. 

"  Oh,  they  were  an  ugly  lot  I  "  Felix  burst  in.  making  ^Iv. 
Lyon  start.  '-^Miss  IMr'dora  wouldn't  have  ininded  if  they 
had  all  been  put  into  the  pillory  and  lost  their  ears.  She 
would  have  said.  '  Their  ears  did  stick  out  so.'  I  should  n"t 
Vv'onder  if  that 's  a  Ijust  of  one  of  tlicm."  Here  Eelix.  with 
sudden  keenness  of  o])?f'rv;)tion,  nodded  at  the  black  bust  with 
the  gauze  over  its  colored  face. 

"  Xo;"  said  ^Ir.  Lyon  ;  •'  that  is  the  eminent  George  AVhit- 
field.  who,  you  well  know,  had  a  gift  of  oivatory  as  of  one  on 
whom  the  tongue  of  flame  had  rested  visildy.  P)Ut  TrovideiK-e 
—  (lonl)tlt'ss  i()V  Avise  ends  in  relation  to  tlie  inner  man,  for  I 
Vv'C'uld  I'^'t  inrjuiro  too  cio>"]y  into  mmutiir  whidi  carry  t()(j 
m;ajy  pi.';i::-ib!f  interpretations  for  any  one  of  them  to  he 
stable — i'i'o\-i(h'nci'.  f  say.  oi-daiiied  tliat  tlie  good  man  should 
squint  ;  ano  my  da.igJiter  has  not  yet  learned  to  bear  witli 
this  infiriiiity." 

''So  she  ]i:' :  |)nt  a  veil  over  it.  Suppose  you  Iiad  squinted 
yourself  '.'  "  ~;m;I  I'^-b'x.  lookin'.;'  at  Esther. 

"Then.  ;l(jab;  ics-;.  vuw  coind  Inive  been  moi-e  prilite  tome, 
Mr.  Holt.'"'  ;-:i:ii  ll-lii'-e.  i-i-iiiL';  and  pl-icing  liersf]!'  at  lier  work- 
table.      '■  Vou  S'M'aa  t('  i.rcfVi-  wliat  is  unusual  ami  m,dy." 

'■A  ])eaeoe]x  I  "  liK  nabt  b^'lix.  •■  I  sliould  like  to  come  and 
scold  her  every  day.  aiid  make  liei-  cvy  and  cut  Ijer  tine  hair  off." 


FELIX  HOLT.   THE   RADICAL.  77 

Felix  rose  to  q;o.  and  said.  ''I  will  not  take  up  more  of  your 
valuable  time,  iVIr.  Lyon.  1  know  tliat  you  have  not  many 
spare  evenings." 

"That  is  true,  my  young  friend  ;  for  I  now  go  to  Sproxton 
one  evening  in  the  week.  I  do  not  despair  that  we  may  some 
day  need  a  chapel  there,  thougli  the  hearers  do  not  multiply 
save  among  the  women,  and  there  is  no  work  as  yet  beguii 
imong  the  miners  themselves.  I  shall  be  glad  of  your  com- 
pany in  my  walk  thither  to-morrow  at  five  o'clock,  if  you 
would  like  to  see  how  that  ])opulation  has  grown  of  late 
years." 

"  Oh,  I  've  been  to  Sproxtou  already  several  times.  I  had 
a  congregation  of  my  own  there  last  Sunday  evening." 

"  What !  do  you  preach  ?  "  said  ^Nlr.  Lyon,  with  a  bright- 
ened glance. 

"  Xot  exactly.     I  went  to  the  ale-house." 

j\[r.  Lyon  started.  "  I  trust  you  are  putting  a  riddle  to  me, 
young  man,  even  as  Samson  did  to  his  companions.  From 
what  you  said  but  lately,  it  cannot  be  tliat  you  are  given  to 
tippling  and  to  taverns." 

''Oh,  I  don't  drink  much.  I  order  a  ]")int  of  beer,  and  I  get 
into  talk  with  the  fellows  over  their  pots  and  pipes.  Some- 
body must  take  a  little  knowledge  and  common-sense  to  them 
in  this  way,  else  how  are  they  to  get  it?  1  go  for  educating 
the  non-electors,  so  I  put  mys(df  m  the  way  of  my  pu])ils  — 
my  academy  is  the  beer-h(juse.  I  '"11  walk  with  you  to-morrow 
with  great  pleasurt'." 

''Do  so,  do  so,"  said  'Mv.  Lyon,  sliaking  hands  wilh  his  odd 
acquaintance.  •'  Wc  shall  understand  each  other  better  by- 
and-by,  I  do\d)t  not."" 

"  I  wish  you  good-evening,  ^liss  Lyon." 

Esther  bowed  vt^ry  slightly,  without  sptTilving. 

■''Tliat  is  a  singular  young  man,  L.stlu'r,''  said  tlie  minister, 
walking  about  aitcr  I'elix  was  gone.  '■  I  discfiai  in  hiin  a 
love  for  whatsoever  things  aro  liourst  and  true,  wliich  I  would 
lain  believe  to  be  an  earnest  ot  I'urilier  (endowment  wit'i  ihe 
wisdom  that  is  from  on  high.  li  i>  tiaie  that,  a--  I'ae  tiMveller 
in   the  desert  is  often   kireil.    b\-   a   lalse   vision    iA    watei-  and 


78  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

freshness,  to  turn  aside  from  the  track  which  leads  to  the 
tried  and  established  fountains,  so  the  Evil  One  will  take  ad- 
vantage of  a  natural  yearning  towards  the  better,  to  delude 
the  soul  with  a  self-liattering  belief  in  a  visionary  virtue, 
higher  than  the  ordinary  fruits  of  the  Spirit.  But  I  trust  it 
is  not  so  here.  I  feel  a  great  enlargement  in  this  young 
man's  presence,  notwithstanding  a  certain  license  in  his  lan- 
guage, which  I  shall  use  my  efforts  to  correct.'' 

"  I  think  he  is  very  coarse  and  rude,"  said  Esther,  with  a 
touch  of  temper  in  her  voice.  '•'  But  he  speaks  better  English 
than  most  of  our  visitors.     AVhat  is  his  occupation  ?  " 

"  Watch  and  clock  making,  by  which,  together  with  a  little 
teaching,  as  I  understand,  he  hopes  to  maintain  his  mother, 
not  thinking  it  right  that  she  should  live  by  the  sale  of  medi- 
cines whose  viitues  lie  distrusts.     It  is  no  common  scruple." 

'■•'  Dear  me,"  said  Estlier,  "  I  thought  he  was  something 
higher  than  that."     She  was  disap]jointed. 

Felix,  on  his  side,  as  he  strolled  out  in  the  evening  air,  said 
to  himself :  "  Xow  by  what  fine  meshes  of  circumstance  did 
that  queer  devout  old  man.  with  his  awful  creed,  which  makes 
this  world  a  vestibule  with  doui)le  doors  to  hell,  and  a  narrow 
stair  on  one  side  whereby  the  thinner  sort  may  mount  to 
heaven — by  what  suljtle  jihiy  of  Ih'sli  and  S})irit  did  he  come 
to  have  a  daughter  so  little  in  liis  own  likfuess  ?  ]\Iarried 
foolishly,  I  suppose.  I'll  never  marry,  thouo-h  I  sliould  have 
to  live  on  raw  turni])S  to  subdue  my  flesh.  I  '11  nevc^r  look 
back  and  say,  •!  had  a  fine  jtui'pd-c  once  —  I  meant  to  keep 
my  hands  clean  and  my  soul  u}iri'_;iit,  and  to  lo(jk  trtith  in  the 
face;  but  ])ray  excuse  me,  I  liave  a  wife  and  clnldren — [ 
nuist  lie  and.  simper  a  little,  else  tl;ey  'II  stai've  ;  '  or  '  ^Vfy  wile 
is  nice,  she  nnist  have  her  bread  v.ell  liiittered,  and  lier  ferd- 
ings  will  be  Imrt  if  she  is  not  tbonglit  genteel.'  That  is  the 
lot  ]Miss  I'>;ther  is  pi'eiiaiaiig  for  some  m;ni  or  ()f]\pr.  T  could 
gi'iu'l  my  t^'etli  at  sucli  se]  f-saf  is!ieil  minxes,  who  think  tliey 
can  tidl  eveiybody  wdiaf  is  the  coii'ect  tiling,  and  the  utmost 
stretfdi  of  their  ideas  will  not  ]ilace  fliem  on  a,  level  with  tlic 
intfdligont  fleas.  1  should  like  to  see  if  she  could  lie  made 
ashamed  of  herself." 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE  RADICAL.  79 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Though  she  be  dead,  yet  let  nic  think  she  lives, 
And  feed  my  mind,  that  dies  for  want  of  lier. 

Marlowe  ;  Tainbnrlaine  the  Great 

Hardly  any  one  in  Treby  wlio  thought  at  all  of  Mr.  Lyon 
and  his  daughter  had  not  t'elt  the  same  sort  of  wonder  about 
Esther  as  Eelix  f(dt.  8he  was  not  niueh  liked  by  her  father's 
church  and  congregation.  'J'lie  less  serious  observed  that  she 
had  too  many  airs  and  gr:iecs,  and  held  her  head  much  too 
high  ;  the  stricter  so]'t  feai'ed  greatly  tli.'it  jMr.  Lyon  had  not 
been  suflicieTitly  carcfid  in  placing  his  daught(,'r  among  God- 
fearing people,  and  that,  ludng  led  astray  l)y  the  mcdancholy 
vanity  of  giving  Ihm'  exceptional  acconiplishnu'nts,  he  had  sent 
]ier  to  a  French  school,  and  allowed  her  to  take  situations 
■where  she  had  contracted  nc)tions  not  only  above  her  own 
rank,  but  of  too  worldly  a  kind  to  be  safe  in  any  rank.  But 
no  one  knew  what  sort  of  a  woman  her  mother  had  been,  for 
Mr.  Lyon  never  spoke  of  his  past  domesticities.  When  he 
was  chosen  as  pastor  at  Trelty  in  1S2,"),  it  was  understood  tliat 
he  had  been  a  widower  many  years,  aiul  he  had  no  companion 
but  the  tearful  and  muc].i-exer(dsed  TA'ddy.  his  dauglit(^r  lieing 
still  at  school.  Tt  was  only  two  yeai'S  ago  that  Esther  luid 
C(une  home  t(^  live  permanentlv  with  her  father,  and  ta.ke 
]iu{»ils  in  the  town.  Wi<liin  that  time  she  had  excited  a  ])as- 
sion  in  two  youn.g  Dissenting  l)r(~asts  that  w(U'(^  clad  in  the 
best  st}de  of  Treby  waisteoat  —  a  garment  which  at  that  ]ieriod 
disjilayed  miudi  design  both  in  the  stuff  and  tlie  weai-ei'  ;  and 
sh(>  had  secureil  aii  astonished  ailiiiii'atiou  oi'  her  (devernes> 
fi'om  the  girls  of  ^•al■iou.s  ao-"s  who  were  lier  jiupils:  iudeei]. 
lier  knowledge  of  Freucli  was  Lfenerallv  held  to  giv(>  a  distinc- 
tion to  Trcl)y  itself  as  comjiared  with  otlmr  uiarket-towi!S. 
r)Ut  she  had  won  little  rc^js-ai'd  n^'  any  nthei-  kiml  "W'i-e  Dis- 
sentin;'   matrons   were   divided  l)(dweeu   fear   lest    rhi-ir   sons 


80  FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL. 

should  want  to  marry  lier  and  resentment  tliat  she  should 
treat  those  ••  undeniable  "  young  men  with  a  distant  scorn 
which  was  hardly  to  be  tolerated  in  a  iidnister's  daughter; 
not  only  ijecauso  that  parentage  ajipeared  to  entail  an  obliga^ 
tion  to  show  an  exceptional  degree  of  Christian  humility,  but 
because,  looked  at  from  a  secular  point  of  view,  a  poor  nunis- 
ter  must  be  Ijelow  the  sid^stantial  householders  who  kept  him. 
For  at  that  time  the  preacher  who  was  paid  under  the  Volun- 
tary system  was  regarded  by  his  tiock  with  feelings  not  less 
mixed  than  the  sjiiiitual  person  who  still  took  his  tithe-pig 
or  his  inodus.  His  gifts  were  admired,  and  tears  were  shed 
uniler  best  bonnets  at  his  sermons  ;  but  the  weaker  tea  was 
thought  gooil  enougli  for  him;  avid  even  wlien  he  went  to 
preach  a  charity  sermon  in  a  strange  town,  he  was  treated 
witli  hcune-made  wine  and  the  smaller  bedroom.  As  the  good 
Churchman's  reverence  was  often  mixed  v/ith  growling,  and 
was  apt  to  be  given  chiefly  to  an  abstract  parson  who  was 
what  a  parson  ought  to  be,  so  the  good  Dissenter  sometimes 
mixed  his  ap})roval  of  ministerial  gifts  with  considerable 
criticism  and  cheapening  of  the  human  vessel  which  contained 
thr)se  treasures.  .Mrs.  ^Muscat  and  Mrs.  Xuttwood  applied  the 
princi[)le  of  Christian  equality  by  remarking  tliat  Mr.  Lyon 
lia'l  his  odilities,  and  that  he  ought  not  to  allow  his  daughter 
to  indulge'  in  such  unbecoming  expenditure  on  her  gloves, 
shoes,  and  hosiery,  even  if  she  did  pay  for  them  out  of  her 
earnings.  As  {V)r  tlie  Church  people  who  engaged  "Miss  Lyon 
to  give  li'ssniis  in  their  families,  their  imaginations  were  alto- 
gctlier  prn-,trated  by  the  incongruity  between  acc'omplishments 
and  Diss'iit.  Ijetween  v/eekly  pra.yer-mectings  and  a  conver- 
sance witli  >()  lively  and  altogetlci  worldly  a  language  as  the 
Freiifli.  Es'.li>u'"s  (twn  mind  was  not  free  from  a  sense  of 
irreconcilal  h'ness  l)etwecii  the  o])jects  of  her  taste  and  the 
conditions  n!'  lier  lot.  She  knew  that  Dissenters  were  looked 
down  upen  b'V  tlinsf^  whom  she  rr'gai-ded  as  tlie  most  refined 
classes;  liei'  favorite  companions,  botb  in  France  and  at  an 
English  scliruil  wIhtc  slie  liad  bcm  ;i  junior  teacher,  Iiad 
thoui,dit  it  (luitc  ridiculous  to  liuvc  a  fatlier  'aIio  was  a  Dis- 
sentinu'    pi'i'iichcr  ;    and    wlicn    an    ardently    admiring    school- 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  81 

fellow  induced  her  parents  to  t:ike  Estlier  as  a  governess  to 
the  younger  children,  all  her  native  tendencies  towards  luxury, 
fastidiousness,  and  scorn  of  mock  gentility,  were  strengthened 
by  witnessing  the  habits  of  a  well-born  and  wealthy  family. 
Yet  the  position  of  servitude  was  irksome  to  her,  and  she  was 
glad  at  last  to  live  at  home  with  her  father ;  for  though, 
throughout  her  girlhood,  she  had  wished  to  avoid  this  lot,  a 
little  experience  had  taught  her  to  prefer  its  comparative 
indeTtendence.  But  she  was  not  contented  with  her  life  :  she 
seemed  to  herself  to  be  surrounded  with  ignoble,  uninterest- 
ing conditions,  from  which  there  was  no  issue  ;  for  even  if  she 
had  been  unamiable  enough  to  give  her  father  pain  deliber- 
ately, it  wonld  have  been  no  satisfaction  to  her  to  go  to  Treby 
church,  and  visibly  turn  her  back  on  Dissent.  It  was  not 
religious  differences,  but  social  differences,  that  Esther  was 
concerned  about,  and  her  ambitious  taste  v*ould  have  Ijeen  no 
more  gratified  in  the  society  of  the  Waces  than  in  tliat  of  tlie 
INluscats.  The  Waces  spoke  iuiperbjct  English  and  played 
wliist  ;  the  Muscats  sjioke  the  sauu;  dialect  and  took  in  the 
"  Evangelical  Magazine."'  Estlier  liked  neither  oi'  these  amuse- 
ments. She  had  one  of  those  exce}iti()nal  organizations  whi(di 
are  quick  a.nd  sensitive  without  being  in  the  least  morbid; 
she  wa.s  alive  to  the  iinest  shades  of  manner,  to  the  nici.'st 
distinctions  oi'  tone  and  accent  ;  she  had  a  little  code  of  her 
ov\'n  about  scents  and  colors,  textures  and  Ij'^havior.  by  which 
she  secretly  condemned  oi'  s;iuclione(l  all  things  and  pers'jns. 
And  she  was  well  satisfied  with  herself  for  her  fa;;lidi(ius  taste, 
never  doubting  that  hers  was  tlit>  highest  standard.  She  was 
]iroud  that  the  l)est-l)orn  and  handsomest  girls  at  school  had 
always  said  that  she  might  l)e  taken  for  a  born  lady.  ][er 
own  ])retty  insteji.  (dad  in  a  silk  stockinjjf.  her  little  heel,  just 
rising  from  a  kid  slipper,  her  irreproachable  naih  and  delieati' 
wrist,  were  the  objects  of  (h'lightiMi  consciousness  to  lier  :  and 
she  felt  that  it  was  her  snpei'ioiaty  which  made  her  unable  to 
u>e  witliout  disgust  any  but:  the  finest  eambric  Iianilkcrchird's 
'ud  freshest  gloves.  Her  inoin'v  all  went  in  the  '/rat  lii'Mt  ion 
oi  these  nice  tastes,  and  she  sa.vei]  nothin'^-  froiu  ha'  e::":ing<. 
1  cannot  say  that  she  had  any  pciugs  of  euuscieiirc  om  this 
'•'>',.  in.  *i 


82  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

^core ;  for  she  felt  sure  that  she  was  generous  :  she  hated  all 
meanness,  would  empty  her  purse  impulsively  on  some  sudden 
appeal  to  her  pity,  and  if  she  found  out  that  her  father  had  a 
want,  she  would  supply  it  with  some  pretty  device  of  a  sur- 
prise. But  then  the  good  man  so  seldom  had  a  want  —  except 
the  perpetual  desire,  which  she  could  never  gratify,  of  seeing 
her  under  convictions,  and  fit  to  become  a  member  of  the 
church. 

As  for  little  M]-.  Lyon,  he  loved  and  admired  this  unre- 
generate  clnld  auore^  he  feared,  than  was  consistent  with  the 
due  preponderance  of  impersonal  and  ministerial  i-egards  :  he 
prayed  and  pleaded  for  lier  Avith  tear^-,  humbling  himself  for 
her  spiritual  dciicieucies  in  the  privacy  of  his  slmly  :  and  then 
came  down-stairs  to  find  liimsolf  in  timorous  subjection  to  her 
wishes,  lest,  as  he  inwardly  said,  he  should  give  his  teaching 
an  ill  savor,  by  mingling  it  witli  out'.vard  ci'ossing.  There 
will  be  queens  in  spite  of  Salic  or  other  laws  of  later  date  than 
Adam  and  Eve  ;  and  here,  in  this  snud!  dingy  house  of  the 
minister  in  iNIalthouse  Yard,  there  was  a  light-footed,  sweet- 
voiced  (}ueen  Esther. 

The  stronger  will  always  rule,  say  some,  with  an  air  of  con- 
fidence which  is  like  a  lawyer's  flourish,  forljidding  exceptions 
or  additions.  lUit  wha.t  is  strength?  Is  it  l)lind  wilfiiliiess 
tluat  sees  no  terrors,  no  inany-linked  conse(juences,  no  bruises 
and  wounds  of  tliose  whose  cords  it  tiglitens  ?  Is  it  the  nar- 
rowness of  a  bi-ain  tliat  concei\^i>s  no  needs  diil'ering  from  its 
own,  and  lool^s  to  no  results  beyond  t\\o  bargains  of  to-day  ; 
that  tugs  with  emphasis  for  every  small  ]iur]»ose,  and  thinks 
it  wealvuess  to  exercise  the  sublime  ])Ower  of  resolve(l  reinin- 
eiation  ?  There  is  a  sort  of  subjection  which  is  tlu^  peculiar 
hei'itage  of  largen(\ss  and  of  love  ;  and  strcMigth  is  olten  only 
another  name  for  willing  bondage  to  ii'reniedi:'bh>  wf'akness. 

Esther  had  affeetion  for  her  fatluu' :  she  reeognizfM]  the  ])ur- 
ity  of  his  (diaracter,  and  a  (luiekness  o[  intellect  in  Inm  which 
responded  to  her  own  liveliness,  in  s])it(>-  of  what  seemed  a 
dreary  l)it'ty,  which  sidected  evei-ything  that  was  least  inter- 
(^sting  and  romantic  in  life  and  history.  l!ut  his  old  clothes 
liad  a  smoky  odor,  and   she  did    nut   like   to  walk   with  him. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  83 

because,  when  people  spoke  to  him  in  the  street,  it  was  his 
wont,  instead  of  remarking  on  the  weather  and  passing  on,  to 
pour  forth  in  an  absent  manner  some  reticctions  that  were  oc- 
cu})ying  his  mind  ahout  the  traces  of  the  Divine  government,  or 
about  a  ])cculiar  incidcait  narrated  in  tlie  life  of  the  eminent 
iMr.  Ivicliard  liaxter.  Esther  had  a  horror  of  appearing  ridicu- 
lous even  in  tlie  eyes  of  vulgar  Trehians.  She  fancied  that 
she  should  have  loved  lier  mother  better  than  slie  was  able  to 
.ove  her  fathei' ;  and  she  wished  she  could  have  remembered 
that  mother  more  thoroughly. 

J>ut  slie  had  no  more  than  a  broken  vision  of  the  time  before 
slie  was  five  years  old  —  the  time  when  the  word  oftenest  on 
her  lips  was  ••Mamma;"  when  a  low  voice  spoke  caressing 
French  Avords  to  her,  and  she  in  lierturn  repeated  the  words  to 
Jier  rag-doll;  v.'hen  a  very  small  whit(^  hand,  difi\>rent  from  any 
that  came  after,  used  to  pat  her.  :i.nd  stroke  her,  and  tie  on  hej' 
froclc  and  pinaiore,  and  when  at  last  tliere  was  nothing  but 
sitting  with  a  doll  on  a  l)ed  v.diere  mamma  was  lying,  till 
lier  lather  once  carried  her  away.  WIkmh'  distinct  memory 
began,  tliere  was  no  longer  the  low  caressing  voice  aiul  tlio 
small  white'  hand.  She  knew  that  lier  n.iother  was  a  French- 
woman, that  she  had  been  in  want  and  distress,  and  that  her 
maiden  name  was  .\nnette  Fedru.  Her  i'athei'  had  told  her  no 
more  th:in  this;  and  once,  in  lier  chilillidod,  when  she  had 
asked  him  some  question.  ht>  had  said,  "  My  l']sth(M'.  until  you 
are  a  woman,  we  will  only  think  of  your  mother  :  when  you 
are  about  to  be  married  and  leave  me.  we  will  speak  of  her, 
and  I  will  deliver  to  yon  Ina"  ring  an.d  all  that  was  hers  ;  Init, 
without  a  great  coiuniand  laid  u})on  me.  I  cannot:  piei'ce  my 
li(  art  by  speaking  of  tluit  which  was  an.d  is  not.''  l']sther  had 
never  lorgott'Mi  tliest.'  words,  a.inl  tlu;  oldi>r  she  heeame,  the 
nuire  im|iossil)le  she  lelr  it  that  she  sliouhl  urge  her  father 
with  (piestions  abviut  the   jiast. 

His  inability  to  speak  ol'  that  pa-^t  to  h(>r  dependi'd  oi;  mani- 
fold causes.  Tartly  it  came  IVoni  ;in  iTiitial  eoneeailment .  lb; 
had  ri"t  the  eoui-age  to  tell  F.-thrr  tl;at  he  was  not  n^ally  IcT 
ialiitT  :  lu'  had  not  tli<'  eourai^'e  to  rt-nounee  that  hold  on  lier 
tenderness  which  thi^   belief  in  his   natural   fatherhood    must 


84  FELIX    HOLT.    THE    RADICAL. 

help  to  give  him,  or  to  incur  any  resentment  that  lier  quick 
spirit  might  feel  at  having  been  brought  up  under  a  false 
supposition.  Ikit  there  were  otlier  things  yet  more  difficult 
for  him  to  be  (uiite  open  about  —  dee})  sorrows  of  his  life  as  a 
Christian  ministor  that  were  hardly  to  be  told  to  a  girl. 

Twenty-two  years  before,  when  Rufus  L}'on  was  no  more  than 
thirty-six  years  old.  he  was  the  admired  pastor  of  a  large  Inde 
pendent  congregation  in  one  of  our  southern  seaport  towns. 
He  was  unmarried,  and  had  met  all  exhortations  of  friends 
who  reprt^<ented  to  liim  that  a.  bishop —  /.  c.  the  overseer  of 
an  Independent  church  and  congreg;i.tion  —  shuuld  l)e  the  hus- 
band of  onc'  wife,  by  saying  that  St.  l^iul  meant  this  particu- 
lar as  a  limitation,  and  nut  as  an  injunction:  tliat  a  minister 
was  jiermitted  to  liave  orie  wife,  but  that  lie,  iJufus  Lyon,  did 
nut  wish  to  avail  liimself  of  that  permission,  tinding  his  studies 
and  other  labors  of  his  vocation  all-absorbing,  and  seeing  that 
mothers  in  Israel  were  sutficiently  provided  by  those  who  had 
not  been  set  apart  for  a  mure  special  work.  His  church  and 
congregation  were  ]iroud  of  him  :  he  was  }iut  forward  on  })lat- 
forms.  was  made  a  '-deputation,''  and  was  requested  to  iircach 
anniversary  sermons  in  far-off  towns.  Wherever  notewortliy 
])rcae]ier.s  were  discussed.  Rufus  Lyon  was  almost  sure  to  be 
mentioiied  as  one  who  did  honor  to  the  Independent  body;  his 
sermons  were  said  to  b'C  full  of  study  yet  full  of  fire  ;  and 
while  he  liad  more  of  human  Iniowledge  than  many  of  his 
1)i-ethren.  lie  sliovred  in  an  eminent  degree  tlie  marks  of  a  true 
ministerial  vocation.  lUit  on  a  sudden  lliis  l)ur;iiiig  and  shin- 
iii'_C  li'_;-h1  scraicil  to  be  quenche(l  :  l\Ir.  Lyon  voluntarily  re- 
signed  liis  cliarge  and  Vvdthdrew  from  tlie  town. 

A  lei'i'ible  ei-i-<is  had  come  upon  liini  ;  a  moment  in  whicli 
reli'_;-ioi!s  doalit  and  newly  awakeiieil  passion  li;!d  rushed  tu- 
!;rether  in  a  common  llo(.)d.  and  had  ]iar;ily/.eil  lii.^  rainistorial 
gift-.  His  li  le  ()[■  thirty-six  years  had  been  a  story  (jT  ])ur(dy 
relic^dous  and  stuilious  iervor  :  his  jiassion  had  lieeii  for  doc- 
t [■mes,  for  ai''_:'unieni;itive  conquest  on  the  side  of  right;  tlie 
sins  he  h;id  Ind  cldfiiy  to  ]ir;iy  ;iuainst  had  been  tlio-t'  of  per- 
sonal ambition  (umler  snch  fci'tiis  as  ambition  lalxcs  in  tiie 
mind  of   a  man  who  has  chosen  the  career  of  an  Independent 


FELIX   HOI/r,    THE    RADICAL.  85 

preacher),  and  those  oF  a  too  restless  intellect,  ceaselessly 
urging  questions  concerning  the  mystery  of  that  which  was 
assuredly  revealed,  and  thus  hindering  the  due  nourishment 
of  the  soul  on  tlie  substance  of  the  truth  delivered.  Even  at 
tliat  time  of  comparative  youth,  his  unworldliness  and  simpli- 
city in  small  matters  (for  he  was  keenly  awake  to  the  larger 
affairs  of  this  world)  gave  a  certain  oddity  to  his  manners  and 
appearance  ;  and  though  his  sensitive  face  had  much  beauty^ 
his  person  altogether  seemed  so  irrelevant  to  a  fashionable 
view  of  things,  that  wtdl-dressed  ladies  and  gentlemen  usually 
laughed  at  him,  as  they  probably  did  at  Mr.  Jolm  Milton  after 
th"^  Kestoratiou  and  ribbons  had  come  in,  and  still  more  at 
that  apostle,  of  wrak  bodily  presence,  who  preached  in  the 
back  streets  of  Kphesus  and  elsewhere,  a  new  view  of  a  new 
religion  that  hardly  anybody  believed  in.  IJufus  Lyon  was 
the  singular-looking  a[)Ostle  of  the  Meeting  in  Skipper's  Lane. 
Was  it  likely  that  any  ronumce  should  befall  such  a  nuin  ? 
Perhaps  not;  but  romance  did  befall  him. 

One  winter's  evening  in  181 1',  ]\Ir.  Lyon  was  returning  from 
a  vilhige  preaching.  He  walked  ;;t  his  usual  ra.}iid  r.'ite,  with 
busy  tlioughts  undistracted  by  any  siglit  more  distinct  than 
the  bushes  and  hedgerow  triM'S.  black  l»eiu.>ath  a  faint  moon- 
light, until  something  suggested  to  him  that  he  iiad  }ierhaps 
omitted  to  l)riiig  away  with  him  a  thin  account-book  in  which 
he  recorded  certain  subscriptions.  He  paused,  unfastened  liis 
outer  coat  and  I'elt  in  all  his  pockets,  then  he  t(K)k  olf  his  hat 
and  looked  inside  it.  'I'lie  l)ook  was  not  to  be  found,  and  lie 
was  about  to  walk  ow.  wIkmi  he  Avas  startled  by  hearing  a  low, 
sweet  voice  sny,  with  a  strong  foreign  accent  — 

"  Have  [)ity  on  me,  sir."' 

Searching  with  his  shoi't-siglited  eyes,  he  ]ierceived  some  one 
jn  a  side-bank  ;  and  approadiing,  lie  foiuul  a  youngwomaii  wi'li 
a  baby  o.n  her  lap.      She  s])oke  a'^'aiii  moi'o  faintlvthan  bii'Di'c. 

'•Sir.  I  die  witii  hungi'r;  in  the  name  of  (iod  take  tlie  little 
one." 

Tluu'e  was  no  distiai,--riii'-;-  the  pale  face  ;md  the  sv/ei  t  low 
voice.  Withiiut  pause.  Mi-  b\-.  n  un^k  the  bale,-  in  his  arms 
and  said.  "Can  you  walk  li\   my  >ide.  youn^  woman'.'"' 


86  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  EADICAL. 

She  rose,  but  seemed  tottering.  "  Lean  on  nip,"  said  Mr. 
Lyon.  And  so  they  walked  slowly  on,  the  minister  for  the 
first  time  in  his  life  carrying  a  Laby. 

Xotliing  better  oocurrc  d  to  him  than  to  take  his  charge  to 
his  own  house  ;  it  was  the  simplest  way  of  relieving  the 
woman's  wants,  and  finding  out  Ijow  she  could  Ijb  helped  fur- 
tlier;  and  ho  tiiougiit  of  no  other  possibilities.  She  was  too 
feeble  for  more  words  to  be  spoken  betw(;en  tliem  till  she  was 
seated  by  his  fireside.  His  elderly  servant  Avas  not  easily 
amazed  at  anytliing  her  master  did  in  the  way  of  charity,  and 
at  once  to(jk  tlie  baby,  while  ]Mr.  Lyo]i  unia.-tcned  the  mother's 
damp  boiniet  and  shawl,  and  gave  her  something  warm  to 
drink.  Then,  waiting  Ijy  her  tdl  it  Avas  time  to  oi't'er  her 
moi'C,  he  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  notice  tli"  loveliness  of  her 
face,  which  scem:!l  to  him  as  that  of  a.u  angel,  with  a  Itcnignity 
in  its  repose  that  caiaied  a  more  iissured  sv.-ei.'tness  than  a.ny 
smile.  (Gradually  she  revived,  lifted  uj'  her  delicate'  h;inds 
between  her  face'  and  the  fii'clight.  and  l(i()ked  at  the  baby 
which  lay  opposite  to  her  on  the  fdd  servant's  la}),  taking  in 
spoonfuls  with  much  cr^ntcnt,  and  stretehing  out  naked  feet 
towards  the  warmth.  Tlcn,  as  her  consciousne'-.s  of  relief  grew 
into  contrasting  memory,  she  Idfed  uii  heu'  eyes  to  i\Lr.  Lyon, 
who  stood  elose  by  her,  and  said,  in  h'a-  pretty  bi'olven  way  — 

"  I  knc'.v  yr)u  had  a  e^riod  !ie;>rt  when  you  tor)k  yoiu'  hat  off. 
Vr)U  st'cmed  to  me  as  t'  "  inci"' '  (i(  tiie  hicn-fn hk'  S'lJiif  ■Tc"ii.''' 

Tlif!  giMtclul  glanee  ot  thos"  l)liie-e:i'ay  eyes,  with  theii^  b)nq 
sl!ado\v-;!i;:l'-ing  eyela-die^:,  v.'as  a  n"\v  kind  fif  good  te)  ihifus 
Lyon  ;  it  s  eiu'  >\  to  jiiie  as  if  a  woneai  liad  never  I'eally  looked 
.'it  him  bejVjre.  ^'et  this  ])0or  thiu'^^  w;:s  ap]);irently  a  blind 
J'"ren(di  r':itholic  —  oi'  dr-lieal"  iiuilui'e,  ^urclv,  jud^dng  fi'om 
her  hands.  Jfe  wa-  in  a  tremor;  he  lelt  rhnt  it  would  he  rud^ 
to  c[uestion  her.  and  he  oidy  urged  her  now  to  lake  a  little 
food.  She  aee.pt'Ml  it  v.dih  evident  enjoynniu,  looking  at  the' 
child  continually,  .end  then,  witli  a  [fesji  burst  of  gi'atitude, 
leaning  forwai'd  io  jn-iss  the  servant's  li;ind.  and  say.  "  (Jii, 
you  are  gfifji]  !  "  'I'l- n  lie  looked  \\\)  at.Miv  Lyon  auaiin  and 
said,  '^' Is  thei-e  in  thf  v^-oifd  a  iirettnu'  iininimt  :'  " 

The   evennig   pas.~;eii  ;  a   bed  M'as  niade  up  for   tlitf  .-strange 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL.  87 

woman,  and  Mr.  Lyon  had  not  asked  her  so  much  as  her  name. 
He  never  went  to  b(^d  himself  tliat  night,  lie  spent  it  in  mis- 
ery, enduring  a  horrible  assault  of  Satan.  He  thought  a  frenzy 
had  seized  Idm.  Wild  visions  of  an  impossible  future  thrust 
themselves  upon  him.  He  dreaded  lest  the  woman  had  a  hus- 
band ;  he  "wished  that  he  might  call  her  his  own,  that  he  might 
worship  her  beauty,  that  she  might  love  and  caress  him.  And 
what  to  the  mass  of  men  would  have  been  only  one  of  many 
allowable  follies  —  a  transient  fascination,  to  be  dispelled  by 
daylight  and  contact  with  those  common  facts  of  which  common- 
sense  is  tlie  retlex  —  was  to  him  a  spiritual  convulsion.  He 
was  as  one  who  raved,  and  knew  that  he  raved.  These  mad 
wishes  were  irreconcilal)le  v/ith  wliat  he  was,  and  must  be,  as 
a  Christian  minister ;  nay,  penetrating  his  soul  as  tropic  heat 
])enetrateg  the  frame,  and  changes  for  it  all  aspects  and  all 
ilavors.  tliey  were  irreconcilable  with  that  conce})tion  of  the 
world  which  made  liis  faith.  All  the  busy  doubt  which  had 
ho  fore  been  mere  im})ish  shadows  flitting  around  a  belief  that 
was  strong  witli  the  sti'cngth  of  an  unsvv'erving  moral  bias,  had 
now  g;itliei-(Ml  Itlooil  and  sulistance.  The  (juestioning  spirit 
had  become  suddenly  bold  and  bhisphemous  :  it  no  longer 
insinuatod  sc(>]iticism  —  it  prompted  deiiance ;  it  no  longer 
exjU'cssed  cool  inrjuisitivo  thought,  but  was  the  voice  of  a 
passionate  mood.  Yot  he  nover  ceased  to  reg;ird  it  as  tin.' 
voice  of  the  tempter :  the  conviction  wliich  had  been  the  law 
of  his  br'tter  lil'e  rt'maincd  within  him  as  a,  coiisi'iiMK'o. 

The  stru'^'gle  of  that  night  was  an  a'.iridirniont  of  all  tlic 
struggles  that  came  after,  (^uick  souls  have  tlunr  intensest 
life  in  tlie  iJrst  antiei]);)torv  sketrh  of  wliat  may  or  will  be. 
and  th''  ])ursuit  of  their  wish  is  the  pursuit  of  tliat  paradisiaead 
vision  v.iiieli  oidy  impelled  them,  and  is  lei't  farthei- and  faithcr 
behind,  vanisliiim'  loi'cver  even  out  of  ho})e  in  the  moment 
which    is  railed   succt'ss. 

Till'  m>xt  nnu'ning  Mr,  Lyon  lieard  his  guest's  history.  Sli'-" 
was  the  (laughter  of  a  Fi'eneli  ullircr  (d'  considei-able  rank,  who 
had  fallen  in  tlie  Itussian  eamoiien.  Slie  had  ocajied  li'iim 
P^'rance  ri>  Kn-daiid  with  niuch  diliieulty  in  urder  to  I'l'juin 
her  husband,  a  yuiuig   Lnglishinan,  Lu    wliuui   she   had    become 


88  FELIX  Hf)LT,   THE  RADICAL. 

attached  durinp,-  his  detention  as  a  prisoner  of  -war  on  parole 
at  Vesoul,  where  she  was  living  under  the  charge  of  some  rela- 
tives, and  to  whom  she  had  been  married  without  the  consent 
of  her  tamily.  Her  husband  had  served  in  the  Hanoverian 
army,  had  obtained  his  discharge  in  order  to  visit  England  on 
some  business,  with  tlie  nature  of  which  she  was  not  acquainted, 
and  had  been  taken  prisoner  as  a  suspected  S|)y.  A  short  time 
after  their  marriage  lie  and  his  fellow-prisoners  had  been  moved 
to  a  town  nearer  the  coast,  and  she  had  rem;iinod  in  v/retched 
uncertainty  aljout  him,  until  at  last  a  letter  had  come  from  him 
telling  her  that  an  exchange  of  })risoiiers  h;id  occurred,  that  he 
was  in  England,  that  she  must  use  her  utmost  effort  to  follow 
him,  and  tliat  on  arriving  on  English  ground  she  must  send 
him  word  under  a  cover  which  he  enclosed,  l)earing  an  address 
in  London.  Fearing  the  opposition  of  her  friends,  she  started 
unknown  to  them,  with  a  very  small  suisply  of  money  ;  and 
after  enduring  much  discomfort  and  many  fears  in  waiting  for 
a  passage,  which  she  at  last  got  in  a  sma.ll  trading  smack,  she 
arrived  at  Southampton — ill.  fJetore  she  was  able  to  write, 
her  baby  was  born  ;  and  before  her  husband's  answer  came,  she 
had  been  obliged  to  ])awn  some  clothes  and  trinkets.  He  de- 
sired hei'  to  trav(d  to  London  where  he  wouhl  nu^et  lier  at  the 
lUdle  Sauvage,  adding  tliat  he  was  himsidf  in  distress,  and  un- 
able to  come  to  lier  :  wlieii  one;-  slie  vras  in  London  tliey  would 
take  ship  and  (|uit  tlie  counlry.  Arrived  at  tlie  Lelle  Sa>uvage, 
tlie  poor  tliiii'j,  \\aite(l  three  days  in  ^'ain  for  lier  husband:  on 
111!.'  forirtb  a  letter  came  in  a  strange  hand,  saying  iliat  in  liis 
last  jiioiiieiits  lie  had  desired  this  letter  to  be  writt(Ui  toint'orm 
her  of  liis  death,  and  rei-oinnieiul  hei'  to  return  to  her  i'rieiids. 
She  (Hrnld  cIukjsc  no  other  coarse,  but  slie  had  soon  been  re- 
duced to  wadkiiig.  that  slie  might  save  lier  ];;'ne(^  to  l)uy  l)read 
with;  and  on  the  evening  wli(>n  she  made  her  a])peal  to  ]Mr. 
liyon.  she  had  pawned  the  last  tliiii'.:-.  o\'er  and  al)ove  needful 
clothing,  that  she  could  ])ersnade  herself  to  ])art  with.  The 
tldii'is  she  had  not  liorne  to  jiart  with  wt're  her  mari'iage-ring. 
and  a  locket  eontainini:  her  hu>banirs  liair.  and  bearing  his 
ba])lisnial  nann".  'i'liis  loekei,  she  said,  exactly  resembled  on{> 
Worn  by  her  husband  on   his  wahdi-ehaiii,  only  that  his  bore 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  89 

the  name  Annette,  and  contained  a  lock  of  her  hair.  The 
precious  triile.  now  liuug  round  lier  neck  l)y  a  cord,  for  she  had 
sold  the  sniall  gold  chain  which  formerly  held  it. 

The  only  guarantee  of  tliis  story,  besides  the  exquisite  can- 
dor of  her  face,  was  a  small  ]iack(>t  of  ])apcrs  which  slie  carried 
ill  her  pocket,  consisting  of  her  husl)and's  few  letters,  the  letter 
which  announced  his  death,  nnd  her  marriage  certiiicate.  It 
was  not  so  probai)le  a  story  as  that  of  many  an  inventive 
vagrant;  but  ^Mr.  Lyon  did  not  doubt  it  for  a  moment.  It 
was  impossil)le  to  him  to  suspect  this  angelic-faced  woman, 
but  he  ha-l  strong  suspicions  conceriung  her  husbnnd.  He 
could  not  help  being  glad  that  she  had  not  retained  the  address 
he  had  desired  her  to  send  to  in  Loiidon,  as  that  removed  any 
obvious  means  of  learning  particulars  about  him.  But  inqui- 
ries might  have  hcvn  made  at  Vesoul  by  letter,  and  her  friends 
there  miglit  Iir.ve  been  aj)}iealed  to.  A  consci(_>usness,  not  to 
be  quit''  siioncAMl.  tolil  ^fr.  Lyon  that  this  was  the  course  he 
ought  to  take,  hut  it  would  have  required  an  energetic  self- 
compicst,  and  lie  was  excused  fi'om  it  by  Annette's  own  dis- 
inclination to  I'i'turn  to  Iv'V  rclati\'es,  if  any  otlier  acceptable 
possibility  could  be  iVmnd. 

He  dreaded,  with  a  violence  of  feeling  Avlticli  surmounted 
all  stru'-;'L:h'S.  lest  aiiytliin-j;  slioidd  take  her  avaiy.  and  ]ilace 
such  harriers  between  tliem  as  would  mak'e  it  unlilc'aly  or  im- 
jiossibie  ihat  slu'  should  ever  love  him  well  ciiougli  to  Ix-coiiK^ 
his  wiie.  ^'ct  he  saw  wilh  ]'rr|yc[-  clearness  tha.i  uub'-'s  ha^ 
tore  up  tiii,>  mad  passion  by  the  roots,  los  laiuisba-ial  usel'ul- 
nrss  Would  be  frusi  iatcd,  and  1lie  ri-onvi'  df  hi-;  soul  would  be 
destri'Ved,  This  woman  wa< 
minutes'  listening  to  her  arrle 
even  it  h.-r  jio^ition  had  bi>ei) 
to  such  a  woniaa  was  nothing 
a.lready  a  tail  that  he  had  wi- 
to  which  li"  owed  an  aUi".;ia;  ■• 
some  backwoods  wher(>  there 
and  wlii're  lie  uiia'i'.l  ha\''  \  hi- 
till'  ji  lys  oi'  teuuoiaio-,-,.  'I'lais 
are  diffused  eijually  throuuli  ihe   \nuthl'ul   yeal'^;.  w.'rf  aroused 


an   ui! 

re  ;■  a  .a'; 

;i  ■  (;at;i,.: 

If:     ten 

ss  talk 

naale   1 

hat  I'lain 

to  bim  : 

less   e. 

Mn\-ocal 

,  ti^  ludte 

himseit' 

le..  th 

aai  a  spii 

aitUa  [  i'all. 

It  waa 

laMl    11 

ie)'a   \ras 

1-  h;-h 

])Ui'iiose 

■.■  —  Ih; 

at  ii-    ha 

•  '    l(ua^-ed  1 

lo  !lv  fu 

wa  -    111 

.    ehuri'l 

1  1  d  reiit"  t 

-1'  laui. 

■^\'.  n-i 

>viaiiari 

ti>  w-ite.  a! 

al   k!anv 

•  -<'ai-ii 

li  I'l  ies  V 

.hii-li  in  la. 

.-t  :;\a'S 

90  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

suddenly  in  Mr.  Lyon,  as  some  men  have  their  speciai  genius 
revealed  to  tht'm  l^y  a  taivly  concurrence  of  conditions.  His 
love  was  the  tirst  love  of  a  fresh  young  heart  full  of  wonder 
and  worshi}).  But  what  to  one  man  is  the  virtue  which  he  has 
sunk  below  tht.^  possibility  of  aspiring  to,  is  to  another  the 
backsliding  "by  which  he  forfeits  his  spiritual  crown. 

The  end  was,  that  Annette  remained  in  his  house.  He  had 
Btriven  against  himself  so  far  as  to  represent  her  position  to 
some  chief  matrons  in  his  congregation,  praying  and  yet  dread- 
ing that  they  would  so  take  her  by  the  hand  as  to  impose  on 
him  that  denial  of  his  own  longing  not  to  let  her  go  out  of  his 
sight,  which  he  found  it  too  hard  to  impose  on  himself.  But 
they  regarded  the  case  coldly  :  the  woman  was,  aft(:'r  all,  a  va- 
grant. Mr.  Lyon  was  observed  to  be  surprisingly  weak  on  the 
subject  —  liis  eagerness  seemed  disproportionate  and  unbecom- 
ing ;  and  this  young  Frenchwoman,  unable  to  express  herself 
very  clearly,  was  no  more  interesting  to  thfise  matrons  and 
tlieir  husbands  than  other  pretty  young  women  sus[)iciously 
circumstanced.  They  vrere  willing  to  subseril^ie  something  to 
carry  her  on  her  way.  or  if  she  took  some  lodgings  they  Avould 
give  her  a  little  sewing,  and  endeavor  to  convert  her  from  Pa- 
])istrv.  If,  however,  she  was  a  re-spectabh'  ]ierson,  as  she  said, 
til"  only  ]n'oper  thing  for  her  vas  to  go  ba.ck  to  her  own  crmu- 
try  and  friends.  Tn  s])ite  of  liims'dl',  Mr.  Lyon  exnltiMl.  TJicre 
sceiiu'd  a.  reason  nov,'  that  he  should  k^eii  AiiiH'tti'  under  his 
own  e\-es.  lb-  told  himself  that  no  I'ead  objiM't  wnuld  Iji'  sr-i'vi'd 
by  his  ]ir(jvii]in'j,' food  and  loilgiii^-  for  hfr  C'lsfwlnTc  —  an  ex- 
iiriise  vdiidi  lu-  could  ill  alfoi'd.  And  shi'  \vas  apjiarently  sc- 
heliiless.  excc],t  as  to  the  oue  task  of  attfiidiii'^'  to  licr  l!al)V. 
tlia_t  it  woulil  liMve  lieen  folly  to  thiidv  of  her  exei-ting  herself 
ioi-  ]:(']■  o-vn  su]iport, 

I'ut  l!ds  coursf  of  his  was  sc\-ercb,-  disapjircjved  bv  his 
church.  TlcM'c  wi'Vi'  virions  siLrns  rhal  tin-  nnni>ti'i' was  under 
soni"  e'.'il  i;illr.<';ii'>' :  ii:s  pi'eachiie,''  '.s'lmtt-d  its  old  fervor,  lie 
seenif-d  to  shun  rli''  intci-iMinr^f  of  Ins  bi-ethreii.  and  vei'v 
mournful  siis]ii<-ioi:s  wi-rc  i-ntfi-taiiffl.  A  formal  rmioiistrance 
was  pre-sentfd  tn  Idm.  Imt  he  iiit-t  )t  e--  if  in-  had  ali'eadv  d<-tfr- 
Uiint'd  to  act  in  antiedpaiion  oi  it.      rlt-  adnntti'd  that  external 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  91 

circumstances,  conjoined  with  a  peculiar  state  of  mind,  were 
likely  !(_•  Iniider  the  ii-uitful  exercise  of  his  ministry,  and  he 
resigned  it.  There  was  mucli  sorrowing,  much  expostulation, 
but  lie  declared  that  for  the  priisent  he  was  vuiable  to  unfold 
himsell'  more  fully  ;  he  only  wished  to  state  solemnly  that 
Annette  Ledru,  though  blind  in  spiritual  things,  was  in  a 
worldly  sense  a  pure  and  virtuous  Vv'oman.  No  laore  was  to  be 
■iiiul,  and  he  de|iart(Hl  to  a  distant  town.  Here  he  maintained 
himself,  Annette,  and  the  child,  with  the  remainder  of  his 
stipend,  and  with  the  wages  he  earned  as  a  jti'inter's  reader. 
Annette  was  one  of  those  angel ic-fa(^.cd  helpl(>ss  women  who 
take  all  things  as  manna  from  heaA'cn  :  the  good  image  of  tlie 
welhbeloved  Saint  John  v\'ished  her  to  stay  witli  him,  and  there 
was  nothing  else  that  she  wished  for  cxce})t  the  unattainable. 
Yet  for  a  whole  year  ]\lr.  fj}'on  never  dared  to  tell  Aniuitte 
that  he  loved  her:  he  trcnnbled  bel'ore  this  woman;  he  saw 
that  the  idea  of  his  being  her  lover  was  too  remote  from  her 
mind  for  her  t(;  have  any  iilea  that  she  ought  not  to  live  with 
him.  She  had  neviM'  known,  never  asked  the  reason  wh}-  he 
gave  U[i  his  ministry.  She  si'emed  to  entertain  as  little  con- 
cern about  the  strange  world  in  v/hich  she  lived  as  a  bird  in  its 
nest:  an  ;i\'alaiiche  had  fallen  over  the  past,  but  she  sat  Av:irm 
and  uncrushed  — then'  was  food  for  many  morrows,  and  her 
baby  flourished.  She  did  not  seem  even  to  care  about  a 
})riest,  or  about  having  her  child  ba]itizeil  ;  and  f'li  the  suliject 
of  religion  Mr.  La'oii  v>'as  a-  timid,  aiid  shi-aiik  ;is  much  i'rom 
speaking  to  her,  as  on  the  subjeet  of  his  love,  lie  dreaded  any- 
thing that  might  cause  her  to  feel  a  sialden  I'epulsiou  toAvards 
Jiim.  lie  dreaded  disturbing  her  siniide  gradb  ude  and  content. 
In  these  days  h.is  religious  faith  Avas  not  slumbering;  it  was 
awake  and  achiiigly  conscious  of  ha\  ing  fadlen  in  a  sti'uggle. 
He  had  had  a  gi'ea!  tre;isuve  comndlted  {o  him.  and  had  flung 
it  away:  he  li'dd  hiins-lf  a  backslider.  His  unbidieviiig 
thoughts  never  ^'ained  the  !';dl  <■;}]•  and  eons(Mit  of  his  soul. 
His  prayers  liad  lierii  stiHedi  by  the  s(Mise  that  tlrare  was  some- 
thing lie  pr.-feri'edi  to  co!ii[.h'te  I  ibi-iliciice  :  thev  had  cea-^ed  to 
be  aiiytliin'_:  but  iineraiitteiil  crii',-  and  confession^,  aad  a  sub- 
ndsaive  iii-escntiment,  rising  ai  times  even  to  an  cnlr-iity.  that 


02  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

some   great  discipline   min'lit   come,  that   the   dulled   spiritual 

sense  niiL;ht  be  roust'd  to  i'ull  vision  and  hearing  as  of  old,  and 
the  sui)renie  facts  beconn^  again  su|)renie  in  his  soul.  .Mr.  Lyou 
will  })erhaps  ^;eeia  a  very  sini])le  personage,  with  pitialuy  nar- 
row theories;  but  none  ol  our  theories  are  (juite  large  enough 
for  all  the;  disclosures  of"  time,  and  to  the  end  of  nicirs  strug- 
gles a  }jenalty  will  remain  for  those  who  sink  from  the  ranks  of 
the  heroes  int(j  the  crowd  for  whom  the  lieroes  light  and  die. 

(Jnt;  da\",  however,  Annette  learned  Mr.  J^yon's  secret.  The 
baby  had  a  tooth  coming,  and  being  iargt;  and  stnjng  now,  was 
noisilv  fi'eti'ul.  Mr.  Lyon,  tlcmgli  hr  had  Ik-cu  Vv'orking  extra 
hours  and  wa..-^  much  in  need  of  lepose,  to(»k  the  ehihl  from  its 
moth, a'  iaimeiliately  (jii  entering  the  hou^e  and  walked  about 
with  it,  })atting  and  talking  soothingly  to  it.  'J'he  stronger 
gras|),  the  new  xm.-^ations.  were  a  snccessfal  anodyne,  and  baby 
went  to  slee})  on  his  shoulder.  But  feai  i'ul  lest  any  movement 
should  disturb  it.  he  sat  down,  and  endured  the  bondage  of 
holding  it  still  against  his  shoulder. 

"You  do  nurse  balj}"  wtdl,*'  saul  .\inn4.te,  approvingly. 
"'  Yet  you  never  nursed  belV,r(>  I  camo  ?  "" 

"No,"  said  Mr.  Lyon.      '•  [  had  no  brothers  and  sisters." 

'•  Wliy  were  you  not  man  ied  ?  "'  Annette  iuid  never  thouglit 
of  asking  that  question  Ijcfore. 

'■  r>. -cause  I  never  loved  any  woman  —  till  now.  I  thought 
I  shoulil  never  marry.     Now  I  wish  to  mari'V.'" 

Anu'-tte  startC'l.  She  did  not  see  at  cjiiee  that  slie  was  the 
■.",'omaij  ]ii'  v.'anted  to  marry;  what  had  Hashed  on  lirr  mind 
\.:is,  tliat  tliere  nuglit  be  a  great  change  in  Mr.  Lyon's  life. 
It  was  as  ii'  the  lightning  had  eidi-red  into  licr  dream  and  half 
..waked  licr. 

••Do  you  think  it  foolish.  Annette,  that  I  should  wish  to 
iiiarry  '.'  '" 

•■  L  did  not  expect  it."  she  said,  doubtfully.  '^  I  did  not 
know  yoi[  liiouglit  aijout   it." 

•'  \'(i\\  IxUow  t]i.-  Woman  I  sliuuld  like  to  many'?'" 

••  I  kiio-.v  hi  r  '.'  "   -he  sai'k  inti-ri; 'ga'i  ively.  liia-l.ina'  dee]ily. 

••  It  i--  \'on..  Aniatie  —  yf)u  wlioni  1  iiave  hjVi/d  Ijctter  than 
■•-■■.   duty.      '  forsook  o\-i-!ytliing  for  you." 


fp:lix  holt,  the  radical.  93 

Mr.  Jj-yon  paused  ;  he  was  about  to  do  what  he  felt  would 
be  ignoMf'  —  to  uj'g'e  what  sceiucd  lik<^  a  elaim. 

''Can  you  love  me,  Annette?  Will  you  be  my  wife?" 
Annette  trrnibled  aud  looked   miserable. 

'•  Do  not  speak  —  for'jft't  it,"  said  -Mr.  Lyon,  rising  suddenly 
and  speaking  with  loud  energy.  '''No,  no  —  1  do  not  want  it 
—  I  do  M'it  wish  it.'' 

Tlu'  b;i by  awoke  as  he  started  up;  he  gave  the  child  into 
Annt'ttc"s  arms,  and  left  her. 

His  Avork  took  him  away  early  the  next  morning  and  the 
next  again.  The}'  did  not  need  to  speak  much  to  each  other. 
The  third  day  .Mr.  Lyon  was  too  ill  to  go  to  work.  His  frame 
had  been  Mverwrought ;  he  had  been  too  poor  to  have  suffi- 
ciently nourishing  food,  and  under  the  shattering  of  his  loiig- 
deferri'd  inijie  his  health  had  given  way.  'l^'ii'-'y  had  no  regular 
servant  ~  -  only  occasional  helj)  from  an  old  woman,  who  lit 
the  tires  aipi  put  on  the  kettles.  Annette  was  foreed  to  be  the 
sick-nui'se.  ;mii  this  sudden  demand  on  her  sluuik  away  some 
of  liei'  loiMiDi'.  The  illness  was  a  serious  one.  and  the  medical 
man  oih'  dav  luniiing  Mr.  T.yon  in  liis  deliriuni  raving  Avith 
an  asle)ii--]iiMg  flicney  in  liiblical  language,  suddi-nly  i(.ioked 
round  with  increased  curiosity  at  AnnC'tte.  and  asked  if  she 
Were  the  sick   m;ni"s  wife,  or  soaie  other  relative. 

"  Xo  —  no  relatioi;.""  said  .\nnett(\  shaking  her  head.  "He 
has  been  good  to  me."" 

••Ildw  Ion',;'  liavc  you  livcnl  with  him  ?" 

■'  INFore  than  ;i  year."' 

^' A^'as  he  a  or^'aclier  once  ?" 

"  Ves." 

"  When  (lid  he  le;ive  off  being  a  preacher  ?  " 

•''  Soon  after  he  took  care  of  me."' 

'•Is  that  ids  child  ?" 

•■'  Sii-."'  siiid  .Viinette.  coloring  indjgnantly.  '•'  T  am  a  widow." 

The  dcictor.  >he  thought,  looked  at  her  oddly,  but  he  asked 
no  more  (luc'stions. 

^^  lien  the  sick'  man  was  LreitiuLT  better,  and  able  to  enjoy 
inva!id"s  fo'id.  he  nhserved  one  day.  v/hile  he  was  taking  some 
broth,   that    Annette    was   lookiiiL,'-  at    him;   he    oaii-ed   to   look 


91  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

at  her  in  return,  and  was  struck  witli  a  new  expression  in  her 
face,  quite  distinct  from  the  merely  pnssive  sweetness  wliicli 
usually  oliaracterized  it.  She  laid  her  little  hand  on  his, 
wliieli  was  now  transparently  thin,  and  said,  "  I  am  getting 
very  wise;  I  huve  scld  some  of  tli''  bo(;'I:s  to  make  money  — 
the  doctor  told  n;  ■  whi-r  '  :  ami  T  i:ave  looked  into  the  sho])S 
where  tln'V  Si-ll  crps  rovl  bonns'is  and  pi''/tty  tliin.^'s,  and  I  can 
do  all  that.  a]id  .'j'4  more  money  to  keep  us.  And  when  you 
are  well  enou'.rh  lo  get  up,  we  will  l;'o  out.  ioid  lie  married- — 
shall  we  not?  Sec!  and  I",  prtlh:''  (\]\c  \):'\)X  lui.l  never  been 
named  an\thing  (,'lse)  "shall  call  you  i'apa  —  and  then  we 
shall  never  part."' 

INIr.  T^yoii  tremljled.  Tliis  illness  —  something;'  I'lse.  pci'liajis 
—  had  made  a  c^'reat  change  in  Ann;dte.  A  iortniulit  after 
that  they  were  married.  Idic  day  l)efore.  he  had  v(uitui'i'd  to 
ask  lier  if  slie  felt  any  difliculiy  about  hei'  religion,  and  if  s])e 
would  consent  to  have  /'/  jutli.-  l;a.[itized  and  bi-ought  up  as  a 
i'rot(;stant.      Slu;  shook  her  head  and  said  very  simply  — 

'•Xo:  ill  j'h'auec,  in  other  (lays.  I  would  liave  minded  :  but 
all  is  changed.  I  never  was  fond  C'f  I'idigion.  but  I  kmnv  it 
was  right.  J'oi.infiis  Ics  Jh-urs.  Ji's  hcls.  In  uu'si'/iu'.  cf  mnii 
mnrl  ijai  etnir  hmn.  ISuit  all  t]iat  is  gone  aw;iy.  There  is 
nothing  (;i  n:y  religion  in  tliis  country.  ISu.r  tlie  goM;)]  Gixl 
must   lie   iiere,   for  you   are   good;    ]    havi^   all   to   yo:i."" 

It  \',-as  \-\  wv  th:,t  Ani.-tre  re;j:;n-iied  her  j-'e-ciit  lit''  as  a  soit 
of  death  to  I  lie  A\'i  ii-!o  -  -  an  existence  o]i  ;:  x-.-xwi^'.-  i-hoM'  u'liere 
she  hai'l  b'^e'i  s:;.vei]  from  wi-erk.  Sli'  was  1t)o  indefi  ;iv  v.vw- 
taily,  too  liMle  iiit-resi'  ;h  to  ;ief;ua!;it  lin-seif'  witli  any  seci'.  t.s 

of    tlie     i<lc.        '|'i|.'     t]-;iHO    sit   eiiel-gV.    tlr'     Ul'MV     N'i^'i;]     COUSciouS- 

ness  and  s\iii].:;thy  wisie!!  Isc!  iie-n  stjia'^'d  in  her  ourinLT  iMr. 
Lvon"s  iiine:s.  ]i'i:l  .-ef!ii  subsidc-l  ii:t'i  til"  olfj  ;  oatli^'to  evei'y- 
thing  exeeot  li,.r  ciiJM.  Slie  ^.■.■irkrr-'l  1  il;e  a  ]>h:id,  in  sti'ange 
air,  ami  the  tfiree  yeai's  of  life  tliat  rnia-nne;]  v\-ere  l.iit  a.  slow 
and  gentle  (hath.  Tiiose  t;hre(!  yeais  were  to  Mr.  L}-on  a  pe- 
riod of  sue'ii  S('i  f-siiiii)!'e:- -ion  ano  I:.''-  m  an(.)tliei'  as  few  men 
know.  Stran'.'e  !  tli.it,  tiic  passion  fer  tliis  womaTi.  which  he 
felt  to  have  (b'awn  liini  aside  fj-oiii  the  ri'jht  as  miieh  as  if  he 
had  broken  the  HKjst  solenLn  v(jws  —  im-  that  onlv  was  ri'dit  to 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   HADICAL.  95 

him  which  lie  hekl  the  br.st  and  highest  —  the  passion  for  a 
bi'iii--  who  had  no  glinqtse  of  his  thoughts  induced  a  more 
thorough  renunciation  tlian  lie  had  ever  known  in  the  time  of 
liis  complete  cU'votion  to  his  ministerial  career.  He  had  no 
ilattery  now,  either  from  himself  or  the  world;  he  knew  that 
lie  had  fallen,  and  his  world  liad  forgotten  him,  or  shook  their 
lieads  at  his  memory.  The  only  satisfaction  he  had  was  the 
satisfaction  of  his  tenderness  —  which  meant  untiring  work, 
untiring  patience,  untiring  wakefulness  even  to  the  dumb  signs 
of  feeling  in  a  creature  whom  he  alone  cared  for. 

The  day  of  parting  came,  and  he  was  left  with  little  Esther 
as  the  one  visible  sign  of  that  foul-  years'  break  in  his  life. 
A  year  afterwards  he  entered  the  ministry  again,  and  lived 
with  the  utnujst  sparingness  that  Esther  might  be  so  educated 
I'.s  to  l)f;  ai)le  to  geb  her  own  bread  in  ease  of  his  death.  Her 
jirobal)le  facility  in  acMniring  Erencli  naturally  suggested  his 
S'.Muling  iier  lo  a  French  school,  whicli  woidd  give  her  a  special 
advania'^'e  as  a  teacher.  It  was  a  J'rotestant  school,  and 
i'l'eneh  l'i-()U'st;),nt  ism  liail  the  lii!;li  i'ecommende.tion  of  being 
/iOn-1. 'relate;';!  1.  il  was  underst(.)(,)il  licit  I'lstiier  would  eon- 
tract  no  l'a]»islieal  s!i|iersi  it  ions  ;  and  this  Avas  ]n'r!ectly  true; 
iau.  siie,  contr;icled,  ;is  we  see,  a.  goeul  deal  of  non-f'apistical 
va \\\\\ . 

3ii'.  I^yen's  re])ut.ition  as  a  I'reacluM'  auil  devoted  [lastor  had 
:.'t>\'ive'd  ;  bnl.^-oiue  dlss-itisiael  ion  bi\e'inning  to  lie  felt  by  liis 
congivgnlien  al;  a,  etn'tam  !:ixiry  detect-'(l  by  them  in  his  views 
as  v>  i;lie  iii!iil>  (}['  ^al vi'tii  >n.  whi;'h  lie  ha.d  in  ciw  fioinuni  evi/n 
hinted  iiii;h{,  ext:'nd  lo  uu'  'i:i^rions  re'-i]>iiaits  of  inerey.  he 
ha.d  louicl  it  (lesir;;bi,>  si'ven  yarn's  ago  '.o  (jv.it  tliis  t'Mi  years' 
]ia-ti)r:ite  and  :;i'ee|)t-,  a  call  irom  1,he  le.--s  inieortaait  church  in 
aAb-iltlioust!  V;i/,|.  Trebv  Ma'.:aia. 

This  w;!S  i'urns  Lven"s  lii-tciy.  a.t  tha.t  tinu'  nidcnown  in 
irs  Inlni'ss  tr,  ;!nv  hnnaui  l-eing  besides  hiiaseli'.  ^^"e  can 
nerl'.aps  gness  v.baii:  riicmevies  tliey  woyv  that  relaxed  tlie 
strina'ency  ol'  liis  dectaane  on  tlie  point  of  salvation,  in  ihe 
d''e]>est  of  all  senses  his  hoivt  ^lid,  — 

Ana  IV'L''!  iu\   iniiid,  tiiut  dirs  t'ur  want  a'l  lior." 


96  FELIX  HuLT,   THE  KAiJiL.U^ 


CHAPTER  VII. 

M.  It  was  but  yesterday  you  ppoke  him  well  ■•- 

You  've  chauged  your  mind  so  soon  / 
iV.  '  Not  I  —  -t  is  he 

That,  changing  to  my  thought,  liar<  chauged  luy  mind. 

No  n.;ia  pji>  rfitten  ajjjiles  in  his  pouch 

Because  ihcir  nriper  side  looiied  fair  to  him. 

Constancy  in  mistake  is  constant  folly. 

The  news  tliat  the  rich  heir  of  the  Transonies  was  actually 
come  back,  and  had  been  seen  at  Treby,  was  carried  to  some 
one  else  who  had  more  reasons  for  being  interested  in  it  than 
the  Eeverend  Ivufus  Lyon  was  yet  conscious  of  having.  It 
was  owing  to  this  that  at  three  o'clock,  two  days  afterwards, 
a  carriage  and  ])air,  witli  coachman  and  footman  in  crimson 
and  drab,  passed  through  the  lodge-gates  of  Transom;*  Court. 
Inside  there  was  a  hale  good-natureddooking  man  of  sixty, 
whose  hands  rested  on  a  knotted  stick  held  between  his  knees; 
and  a  blue-eyed,  well-featured  lady.  f;it  and  middlc-aL^-ed  —  a 
moiuitain  of  satin,  lace,  and  exquisitt^  jinislin  finbroidery. 
They  were  n.ot  })ers()ns  of  highly  remarkable  appei^'ancc.  but 
to  most  'i'i'('i)i;uis  they  seciiu'd  absolutely  unique,  wml  likely 
to  be  known  anvwhcrc.  II'  }'ou  had  looked  dowu  om  them 
from  the  l)(ix  oi'  Siimjison's  coacli.  he  Wdidd  ha\'e  said,  after 
liftinu'  his  liar.  •■  Sir  3hiximus  and  his  lady  —  did  you  see?" 
tliinkiug   it   uimmIIi'ss   to  add   the   surnanu\ 

'•  \\'e  shall  lind  Iht  greatly  elated.  doid)tless.""  ba-Iy  -Dfbarry 
was  .saying.      ■■  She  has  been  in  the  sJiade  s(.>  long." 

"Ah,  jio'ir  tliim,''!"'  saiil  Sir  Maximus.  ■■  .\  line  womati  she 
was  in  her  Modin.  i  I'diu'iidiei'  the  tii->t  (■(ninty  i'ull  she  at- 
tended v.'e  were  all  I'eady  to  light  for  llie  sake  oF  ilancing  witli 
her.  1  always-  liked  hei'  IVom  thatliiae  —  1  never  swallowed 
the   s(^andal   aljout   her  myself."' 

'■  If  we  tire  to  be  intimatf:*  witli  liei\"  said  Lady  Debari'v.  "I 
wish  vou  wmdd  avoid  making  such  allusi'ms.  Sii'  Mtixiuius. 
I  should  not  like   Sciina.  and  iiarnei  to  liear  tliem." 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  97 

"  My  dear,  I  should  have  forgotten  all  about  the  scandal, 
ouly  you  remind  me  of  it  sometimes,"  retorted  the  Baronet, 
smiling  and  taking  out  his  snuf£-box. 

"  These  sudden  turns  of  fortune  are  often  dangerous  to  an 
excitable  constitution,''  said  L;idy  Debarry,  not  choosing  to 
notice  her  husband's  epigram.  ••  Poor  Lady  Alicia  ]Methurst 
got  heart-disease  from  a  sudden  |iiece  of  luck  —  the  death  of 
lier  uncle,  you  know.  If  Mrs.  Transome  were  wise  she  would 
go  to  town  —  she  can  afford  it  now  —  and  consult  Dr.  Trun- 
cheon. I  should  say  myself  he  would  order  her  digitalis  :  I 
have  often  guessed  exactly  what  a  prescription  would  be. 
But  it  certainly  was  always  one  of  her  weak  points  to  think 
that  she  understood  medicine  better  than  other  people." 

"She's  a  healthy  woman  enough,  surely  :  see  how  upright 
she  is,  and  she  rides  about  like  a  girl  of  twenty.'" 

"She  is  So  thin  that  she  makes  me  sluulder." 

"Pooh  I  she 's  slim  and  active;  women  are  not  bid  for  by 
the  pound."' 

"  Pray  don't  bo  so  coarse." 

Sir  ]\hiximus  lauglK^l  and  showed  his  good  teeth,  which 
made  his  laughter  very  becoming.  The  c;irrlage  stoppiCil,  and 
tht^y  wei'e  soon  ushered  int(.>  3Irs.  Transonie's  sittmg-rcom, 
wJiei'e  she  was  working  at  her  worsted  embroidery.  A  little 
<lai]y  embroidery  had  been  a.  constant  elem'.nii  in  Mrs.  T]'an- 
some's  lii'e  ;  that  soothing  occupation  of  talcing  stitcl^^s  to 
])roduce  what  neither  she  nor  au}'  tnie  (dse  wanted,  wa.b  then 
tli<>  resource  oi  many  a  well-boi'u  and  unhap]y  vroman. 

She  Teeci\-e,l  mueli  warm  congratulation  and  pressure  of  hei 
hand  willi  p-rfeet  eomposui'e  of  manner:  l)ut  ,--lie  beta  me 
pah'T  tlian  usual,  and  luu'  hands  turneil  (piite  e(jhl.  The 
Debai'rys   did    not    yet  know   what   IFarohl's   ]!(,»]iti"S    were. 

"  Well,  our  bu-ky  youngster  is  conui  in  the'  nici;  oi'  time." 
said  Sii'  Maxinnis  :  ••  \l'  he  'il  >tanib  lie  and  Pliili])  can  run  in 
haiaiess  together  ami  kee])  out  both  the  Whigs.'' 

•■  It  is  really  (uiite  a  pi'ovideiui^ial  thing  —  his  returning  just 
now."  said  '--^dy  Deiiarry.  '•  L  couldn't  help  thinking  ihat 
something  would  ociair  to  jtrevent  I'hilip  Iriuii  ha\'ing  such  a 
man   as    I'eter  Gar.^tiu  for  his  '•■ 'heague." 

VOT,.     HI.  7 


98  FELIX   HULT,    THE   KADIUAL. 

"I  call  my  friend  Harold  a  youiigster,''  said  Sir  Maximns, 
"for,  you  know,  I  remember  him  only  as  be  was  when  that 
portrait  was  taken."' 

"  That  is  a  long  while  ago."'  said  j\Trs.  Transome.  "My  son 
is  much  altered,  as  you  may  imagint'." 

There;  was  a  confused  sound  of  voices  in  tlie  library  while 
this  talk  was  going  on.  iMi's.  Transome  clio.se  to  ignore  that 
noise,  but  lier  face,  from  bciug  [ude,  began  to  Hush  a  little. 

"Yes,  yes,  on  the  outside,  i  dare  say.  lUit  he  was  a  line 
fellow  —  I  always  liked  him.  And  if  anybody  had  asked  mo 
wluit  I  sliould  choose  f(n'  the  good  of  the  coiiuty,  1  could  n't 
liave  thought  of  anything  better  than  ha\^ing  a  young  Tran- 
some for  a  ju'ighbor  who  will  take  an  active  ])art.  The  Tran- 
sonuis  and  the  Debarrys  were  always  on  the  right  side  together 
in  old  days.  Of  course  he  "11  stand  —  he  has  made  up  his 
luind  to  it  ?  ■' 

Tlie  neetl  for  an  answer  to  this  embarrassing  question  was 
deferred  by  the  increase  cd'  inarticuiaic  sounds  accoiujianied 
by  a  bark  from  the  library,  and  tlie  smlden  a})|»earaiice  at  the 
tapestry-hung  doorway  oi'  old  Mr.  Traiisoim.'  with  a  c(U'd  round 
his  \v'aist,  playing  a  very  po()r-[)ac;'d  liorsc  for  a  biack-inancd 
little  l)Oy  about  three  years  old,  v.dio  was  urL;-ing  liini  on  w  ith 
loud  eiH'Diii'a'^iiig  noises  ajid  ocea.^ioual  Iliuiii]is  fi'om  a  stick 
^■vllie]l  iu!  wiidded  witii  sdiue  di llieiiltv.  The  old  man  paused 
^vil  h  a.  vagiu'  gentle  smile  ;U;  ilie  doorw-ay.  wdiilc  tin'  J  laroict 
got  np  to  speak  to  biin.  Xinu'od  siinlTed  at  his  iiiastei''s  legs 
toaseeriain  that  he  A\';is  not  hurt,  and  llie  liille  boy.  iindijig 
sonii'Tliin'_;-  new  to  bi'  looked  at.  let  go  i!ie  cord  and  came 
ruiuid  in  I'rnn'r,  of  the  eonipan\,  (lra'_;ging  his  slie]\.  and  stand- 
iiig  at  a,  sal::  war-daneing  distance  as  he  iixiMl  his  great  black 
eyes  on   Lady  1  )eb:irry. 

'' Dear  nie.  wlmta  splendid  little  boy.  ?.!rs.  Ti-ansoino!  why 
—  it  cannot  be — can  it  be  —  that  you  iiaA'c;  tln^  hajipiness  to 
be  ;i  graiKlmaniina  '.'  '' 

"  Ves  ;  that  is  my  son's  little  boy.'' 

"Indeed!''  said  T.:id.y  l)el)arry.  really  ama7(vl.  'M  never 
fte.ard  yon  s],teak  of  Lis  marriage,  fie  has  brought  you  homo 
n  daughter-in-law,  tiien  ■!  '' 


FELIX  HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  99 

"No,"  said  Mi'S.  Transonie,  coldly;  "she  is  dead." 

"■■  O— 0 — oh  i ''  said  Lady  Drbarry,  in  a  tone  Indicrously  un- 
decidi'd  between  eondolence,  satisfaction,  and  general  misti- 
ness. •"How  very  singular  —  1  mean  tliat  we  should  not  have 
heard  of  .Mr.  Harold's  marriage.  But  lie  's  a  charming  little 
fellow  :  come  to  me,  you  round-cheeked  cherub," 

The  ijlack  eyes  continued  lixed  as  if  by  a  sort  of  fascmatior. 
on  Lady  Debarry's  face,  and  her  aii'able  invitation  was  un- 
heeded. At  last,  })utting  his  head  forward  and  pouting  his 
lips,  the  cherub  gave  forth  with  marked  intention  the  sounds 
'•' Xau-o-oom,"'  many  times  repeated:  apparently  they  summed 
u})  his  opinion  (jf  Lady  Debarry,  and  may  perhaps  have  jueant 
"naughty  old  woman,''  but  his  speech  was  a  broken  lisping 
pdlygiot  of  iiazardous  interpretation.  Then  he  turned  to  ])ull 
at  the  Lleuheim  spaniel,  which,  being  old  and  j)eevish,  gave  a 
little  snap. 

••  Go.  '^o.  Harry  ;  let  })Oor  Tulf  alone  — he  '11  l.)ite  you,"  said 
Mrs.  Ti'ausome,  stooping  to  release  Ikm'  aged  ])et. 

Ib'r  \\i)rds  Were  too  suggestive,  ioi'  Harry  innu'ediately  laid 
hold  oi'  lie;'  arm  with  his  teeth,  and  bit  with  all  his  miglit. 
Ka.jipily  the  .-tuifs  upon  it  were  some  pi-oteci  ion.  l)ut  the  pain 
loreijd  Mrs.  Ti'ansoine  to  give  a  low  cry  ;  ami  Sii'  ^ra.xiinus. 
who  had  ne,\v  turu'-il  to  rese;it  liiiiiselC.  sliriok  the  little  I'ascal 
oil,  whei-iMipon  \iO  burst  away  aii'l  trotted  into  the  library 
again. 

"1  feai'  yon  are  hurt.""  said  La<]y  Debnrry.  with  sineere  con- 
cern. "  \\'ii:it  a  little  savage  I  L'o  have  your  av;u  att"i;(l'Ml  to. 
my  (ie;n' —  I  recdmmeud  fomentati.  in  —  donr  liiin.lv  of  me." 

"  ( )h.  thanl-:  yon,  it  is  nothing'.""  ,-ai(l  Mrs.  l'i-ansoin(\  Ijiting 
lier  li))  and  ^•milin.g  alteiaiately  ;  ■•  it  will  soon  go  off.  The 
[i]e;ir~nres  o'l'  b"ing  a.  grandiminniia.  you  perceive.  The  chiM 
leis  taki'ii  a  iMslil-;e  to  mi':  bat  1m'  !ii:ikes  onit"  a,  new  life  for 
Mr.  'I'l'ansoine  ;   they  wei'c  pKn'iV'l  li  iws  at  once."' 

"  l^iess  niv  Jieart  !  "'  said  Sir  Maxinnis.  •■it  is  odd.  to  think 
ot  fiar(ai,  .'aivicL':  been  a  iami'\'  m.^n  so  lo!i'_;-.  I  Mv^^k-  no  mv 
I  'jud)  Im  \\-as  a  voun.-j  ba(dieli)i'.  Wdiat  an  old  staL;er  I  ."m.  to 
1)"  sure!  And  whom  lias  h.'  maia'ied  ■,•"  ]  lioin'  \\r  shadl  ^'oon 
have    tile    pleasure   oi    seeiULi-    ."'ar^.    Ihirold    I'raiison.e."      Sir 


100  FELIX   liULT,   THE   KADICAL. 

Maximus,  occupied  with  old  Mr.  Transome,  had  not  overheard 

the  previous  conversation  on  that  subject. 

"  She  is  no  longer  living,"  Lady  Debariy  hastily  interposed ; 
"but  now,  my  dear  Sir  Maximus,  we  must  not  hinder  Mrs. 
Transome  I'rcjiu  attending  to  her  arm.  I  am  sure  she  is  in 
pain.  Don't  say  anotlier  word,  my  dear  —  we  shall  see  you 
again  — you  and  Mr.  Harold  will  come,  and  dine  with  us  on 
Thursday  —  say  yes,  only  yes.  Sir  Maximus  is  longing  to  see 
him  ;  and  I'liilip  will  be  down." 

''Yes,  yes  I ''  said  Sir  Maximus;  "he  must  lose  no  time  in 
making  I'hilip's  acquaint<ince.  Tell  him  l'liili[)  is  a  tine  fellow 
—  curried  everything  before  him  at  Oxlbrd.  And  your  son 
must  be  returned  along  with  him  for  Xorth  Loamshire.  You 
said  he  meant  to  stand  '.'  " 

"  I  will  write  and  let  you  know  if  Hai'old  has  any  engage- 
ment for  Thursday  ;  he  would  of  course  be  happy  otherwise," 
said  ]Mrs.  Transome,  evading  the  question. 

"If  not  Thursday,  the  next  day  —  the  very  first  day  he 
can." 

Tlie  visitors  left,  and  ]\[rs.  Transome  was  almost  glad  of  the 
painful  liite  whicli  had  saved  her  i'rom  being  questioned  I'ur- 
ther  about  Harold's  ])()litics.  "This  is  the  last  visit  1  sli;.]! 
rerei\i'  Frrau  tliem."  she  said  to  herself  as  the  dot^r  closed  !)•'- 
hind  them,  and  siie  rang  lor  Diuiner. 

"That  ])0()r  creature  is  not  lia])py.  Sir  ^Maximus."  said  Lady 
Deban'v  as  tlie\'  drove  alonu'.  "  Sometliiug  annoys  iier  abort 
lie]'  sou.  1  h(ii)e  tlieve  ts  nothing  un])leasaiit  in  Jiis  eliaraet'  i\ 
llirhf'i'  he  i<fjit  his  lua ri'ia'j,'e  a  secret  i'rom  her.  or  slie  was 
asliaiiUMi  oi'  it.  He  is  thirty-four  at  least  In'  tliis  tiiiii\  Alter 
living  in  the  l^ast  so  long  lie  may  lia\'e  lieeonie  a  sort  of  ji.  r- 
soii  one  woul(l  not  eai'e  ill  be  intimate  with,  and  tliat  savage 
boy  —  he  does  n"t"  liiiil.;  lihc  a  Lilly's  cliihh" 

"  Pooh,  my  dear,"  said  Sir  .Abixinins.  ■•women  tlnidv  so  much 
of  those  iiiinufi;e.  in  i  he  present  state  ()['  the  country  it  is 
our  duty  to  hml;  at  a  man's  ])osition  and  polities.  I'liilij)  and 
my  brother  ai'c  lidth  of  iliat  oiiinion,  and  I  tliink  tliey  know 
what's  right,  i  i'  any  man  does.  We  are  bound  to  regai'd  every 
mau  Oi  our  parly  as  a  [lublie  instrument,  and  to  ]»ullail  together. 


FELIX  KOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  lUl 

The  TtHiisomes  have  always  been  a  good  Tory  family,  but  it 
has  been  a  ci[)her  of  late  years.  This  young  fellow  coming 
back  witli  a  fcjrtune  to  give  th..  iamily  a  head  and  a  position 
is  a  clear  gain  to  the  county  ;  and  with  Pliiiip  he  "il  get  into 
the  right  hands — of  course  he  wants  guiding,  having  been 
out  of  the  country  so  long.  All  we  have  to  ask  is,  wliether  a 
man  "s  a  Tory,  and  will  make  a  stand  for  the  good  of  the  coun- 
try ?  — that 's  tlie  plain  Englisli  of  the  matter.  And  I  do  beg 
of  you,  my  d"ar,  to  set  aside  all  these  gossiping  niceties,  and 
exert  yourst.'li',  like  a  woman  of  sense  and  spirit  as  you  are,  to 
bring  the  right  people  together." 

Here  Sir  ^laximus  gave  a  deep  cough,  took  out  his  snuff- 
box, and  tapped  it:  he  had  made  a  serious  marital  sjieech,  an 
exertion  to  which  lie  was  rarely  urged  by  anything  smaller 
tluin  a-  niatter  of  conscience.  And  this  outline,  of  the  vrliole 
duty  of  a  Tory  was  matter  of  conscience  witli  him;  though 
the  ■■  Du'lifld  Watchman"  had  pointed  exjU'essly  to  Sir  Maxi- 
iiiiis  l)eb:irry  amongst  others,  in  branding  the  coojieration  of 
till'  I'orirs  as  a  con.H'ious  seliishness  and  reckless  immorality, 
whii/li,  however,  would  b(_'  defeated  by  the  co-o]»eration  oi 
all  [he  I'ricnds  of  truth  and  liberty,  who,  the  "Watchman"' 
ti'ii^ted.  would  subordinate  all  non-uolitical  diiiereiu'es  in 
order  to  return  I'epresencatives  pledged  to  support  the  present 
Cfoverniiicnt. 

''  [  am  sure.  Sir  ^laximus,"  Lady  Debarry  answei'ed,  '' yoit 
could  not  iiave  observed  that  an\'thing  was  wanting  in  my 
manners  to  Mrs.  Transcnne."' 

••  No,  no,  my  dear;  but  I  say  this  by  way  ol  caution.  Xever 
mi'id  what  wa:;  done  at  Smyrna,  or  whether  Transome  likes 
to  sit  with  his  heels  tucked  up.  We  m,ty  surelv  wink  at  a 
Jew  Ihin-s  tor  the  sake  of  the  nuiilic  interest,  it  tJod  Almiuiity 
(iocs:    and    it    he    didn't.     1    lion't    know    what     would     have 

iiecome  of  the  counti-y  —  (bivernmeiit    could   ne\'er  have    1 u 

canied  on,  a'ud  numy  a  good  battle  woidd  have  lu^eu  lost. 
That's  the  philosophy  ot  the  mutter,  and  the  comniousi  use 
too." 

Cb.iod  Sir  ^Faximu.s  gave  a  dee])  cough  and  taiijieil  his  hox 
again,   inwardly    remarking,  that  if  he  had  lujt    been  sucu  a 


102  FELIX   HOLT,   THK   RADICAL. 

lazy  fellow  he  might  have  made  as  good  a  figure  as  his  son 
Philip. 

But  at  this  point  the  carriage,  which  was  rolling  by  a  turn 
towards  Treby  Magna,  passed  a  well-dressed  man,  who  raised 
his  hat  to  bir  Maximus,  and  called  to  the  coachman  to  stop. 

"  Excuse  me,  Sir  Maximus,"'  said  this  personage,  standing 
uncovered  at  the  carriage-door,  •'•  but  I  liave  just  learned  some- 
thing of  importance  at  Treby,  which  I  thought  you  would 
like  to  know  as  soon  as  possible."' 

"  Ah  I  what's  that  ?  Something  about  Garstin  or  Clement  ?  " 
said  Sir  Maximus,  seeing  tlie  other  draw  a  poster  from  his 
pocket. 

'•' Xo  ;  rather  worse,  I  ftMr  you  will  think.  A  now  Radical 
candidate.  I  got  this  by  a  stratagem  from  the  printer"s  boy. 
They  're  not  posted  yet.'' 

"  A  liudical !  "  said  Sir  ^faximus,  in  a  tone  of  incredulous 
disgust,  as  he  took  the  folded  bill.  '"What  fool  is  he? — ■ 
he  ''11  have  no  chance.'"' 

'■'They  say  he's  richer  than  Garstin." 

'•  Harold  Transome  I  "  shouted  Sir  ^Jaximus,  as  he  road  the 
name  in  tliroi>-inch  lettors.  "'I  don't  believe  it  —  it 's  a  ti'ick 
—  it 's  a  s(niib  :  why  —  why  —  wc  "vo  just  been  to  liis  ])laco  — 
I'll?  do  you  know  any  more;?  Spoak.  sir — sj  imI;  ;  don't 
di'id  out  your  story  like  a  damned  mountebank-,  ^vho  wants  to 
koeii  pfO])l(^  giiiiin^'." 

"Sir  Abixiiiius.  prny  ilon't  give  way  so."  snid  Lady  l)ob;;rry. 

'•  1  'm  :i!r:iid  llici'c  "s  no  d<'uiii  j'.i'ont  it.  sir.''  said  riiristiau. 
'•  \\'f"v  y<  ttiiig  tlio  liill.  T  n:ct  V.v.  Lrdii-on's  dork,  and  ho  said 
lie  li;)d  ii!st  laid  tlo'  \vli'il('  ,'^tory  i'voiii  Ji'i'iiiyii's  cb-rk.  Tlie 
Jiiiin  Inn  is  ongngi-d  ah-ciidy.  and  a.  ooinniii tec  is  Ixdii;,''  made 
u]».  Ill'  sriA's  .Tci'invn  'j-ocs  lil;  >  a  stoam-oin^'-ini'.  wlion  bo  has  a 
mind,  ,'dldioivrb.  jn'  maizes  surh  ]on-'-winibMl  sooofdios."' 

'•' .bTiiiyn  bi'  ban'.:-od  lor  a,  two-lar.'d  rascal  I  'VrW  Mitchell 
to  drivo  on.  ft  "s  oi'  no  nso  to  stay  ciaittering  iioro.  Jump 
U[)  on  the  box  aiid  'j;o  Juano  witli  us.      ]  naiy  want  you.'" 

'•You  SO''  I  wa>  ri'_;-br.  Sir  i"\b-ixin;;iN.'"  said  tin'  iJa^ronet's 
wife;  "T  had  an  iii>tinct  that  we  should  'iiul  biin  au  un- 
pleasant person," 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL.  103 

"  Fudge  !  if  you  had  such  a  fine  instinct,  why  did  you  let  us 
go  to  Transome  Court  and  make  fools  of  ourselves  ?  " 

'•  ^Vould  you  have  listened  to  me  ?  But  of  course  you  will 
not  have  him  to  dine  with  you  ?  " 

''  Dine  with  me  ?  I  should  tliink  not.  I  'd  sooner  he 
should  dine  off  me.  I  see  how  it  is  clearly  enough.  lie  has 
bt'couK^  a.  regular  beast  among  those  Mahometans  —  he 's  got 
neither  religion  nor  morals  left.  He  can't  know  anything 
about  Ihiglish  polities.  He  '11  go  and  cut  his  own  nose  off  as 
a  landholder,  and  never  know.  However,  he  won't  get  in  — 
he  '11  spend  his  money  for  nothing." 

"  I  fear  he  is  a  very  licentious  man,"  said  Lady  Debarry, 
"  ^\'e  know  now  why  his  mother  seemed  so  uneasy.  I  should 
think  she  reflects  a  little,  poor  creature." 

•' It 's  a  confounded  nuisance  w(^  didn't  meet  Christian  on 
our  way,  instead  of  coming  back;  Ijut  better  now  tlian  lat(  r. 
He  "s  an  uncnminonly  adroit,  useful  felh>w,  that  factotum  ei 
I'jiilip's.  1  wish  rial  would  take  my  man  and  give  me 
Christian.  I'd  make,  him  house-steward;  he  might  reduce 
the  accounts  a  little." 

]'erh;i]iS  Sir  iMaxinnis  would  not  have  been  so  sanguine  as 
to  ^Ir.  ( 'liri-tian's  economical  virtues  if  he  had  seen  tliat  gen- 
tleinan  relaxing  himself  tlie  same  ("Vfuiiig  among  the  othv'r 
distinguished  dependants  of  the  iamily  and  ire(pienters  of  tla- 
steward's  room.  I'ut  a  man  of  Sir  ^Maxinius's  rank  is  like 
thi)se  antediluvian  aninuils  Avlioni  tlu'  system  of  tiling's  C(  ii- 
demueil  to  carry  sneh  a  bnige  Indk  that  tliey  really  could  not 
in-;])eet  tlieir  "lioilily  apinirtenanee.  and  liad  no  conce])ti(ai  of 
tiieir  owu  tails  :  their  p;;rasites  doubtless  liad  a  merr}'  tiine  .■[ 
it.  and  ofttni  did  extremelv  va>l]  wlimi  llie  hiLi'h-bred  saurian  hi;'i- 
S(df'  was  ill  at  ease.  Treby  i\buior.  nu'asui'ed  IVon:  tli<'  fi'<  :;t 
salo()n  to  the  renu)test  shed,  was  as  large  ;is  a  niodera,te-siziMl 
village,  and,  there  W(>rp  eertsiinly  more  lights  burning  in  ^'t 
evei'V  evening,  nioi'e  wine.  sj(irit-<.  and  ale  drunk,  mure  wa'e 
and  more  folly,  than  eonld  be  f<.-;nd  in  S(iine  large  vilIa-;-'S, 
There  was  fast  revelry  in  the  ste\\'ard's  room,  and  shr.v  reveliy 
m  llie  S(>(itcli  bailiff's  room:  ^bort  whist,  eostuuic  and  tlii'i- 
tion  in  the  housekeeper's  room,  anil  the  sauu;  at  a  lowt-r  price 


104  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

in  the  servants'  liall ;  a  select  Olympian  feast  in  the  private 
apartment  of  the  cook,  who  was  a  much  grander  person  than 
her  ladyshi]!.  and  wore  gold  and  jewellery  to  a  vast  amount  of 
suet;  a  gambling  group  in  the  stables,  and  the  coachman, 
perhaps  the  most  innocent  member  f)f  the  establishment, 
tippling  in  mnjestic  solitude  by  a  fire  in  the  harn(^ss  room. 
For  Sir  IMaxiuius.  as  eveiy  one  said,  was  a  gentleman  of  the 
right  sort,  condescended  to  no  mean  in(pdries,  greeted  his 
head-servants  \v\{h  a  '-good  evening,  gentlemen,''  when  he 
iiiet  them  in  the  I'ark,  and  only  snarled  in  a  su])dued  way 
when  he  looked  over  tlie  accounts,  willing  to  oidure  some 
personrd  inconvenieiice  in  order  to  keep  up  the  institutions  of 
the  covudry,  to  maintain  his  liereditary  establishment,  and 
do  his  duty  in  that  station  of  life  —  the  station  of  the  long- 
tailed  saurian — to  wliich  it  had  pleased  Providence  to  call 
liim. 

The  focus  of  brilliancy  at  Treby  ^Manor  that  evening  was  in 
no  way  the  dining-room,  whei'e  Sir  ]\'.aximus  si|ii>(^d  Ids  port 
under  sumo  mental  depression,  as  he  disc\issed  with  his 
brothel',  tic  IN'Vorend  Augustus,  the  sad  fact  that  one  (if  the 
oldest  names  in  tlie  county  was  to  be  on  the  wrong  side  —  not 
in  the  di'awing-i'oom,  whei-e  ^Vfiss  Debarry  and  i\Iiss  Sdina, 
([uietly  elegaiit  in  tlieir  dre  ;s  and  manners,  were  i'eeling 
ratlier  did!  tlia.n  otlierwise.  having  finislied  Mr.  Jbdwer's 
■'  Kugeiie  Aram."  ;nid  being  llirown  l>ack  on  the  la-t  grent  ])rose 
voik  of  .Mr.  Southey,  wlnle  tlieii'  mamma  slundfi-rd  a,  little 
(jii  tlie  sofa.  Xo  :  the  centre  of  eagei'  talk  and  eiijox'ment  was 
tlie  steward's  room,  wliere  Air.  Scales,  house-steward  and 
liead-butlcr.  a.  man  most  solicitous  about  bis  boots,  wristbands, 
tlie  roll  of  his  Avlnskers,  and  other  atti'ibutes  of  a  gentliMiian, 
distril)iite(l  cigars,  cognac,  and  whiskey,  to  various  colleagues 
and  guests  who  were  discussing,  Avith  that  fr(^edom  of  con- 
jecture which  is  one  of  our  inalienable  ])rivileges  as  I>ritons, 
the  proljable  amoiintof  Harold  Transorne's  fortune,  r'oncerning 
which  fame  had  aliM^inlv  been  busy  long  eiKiugli  to  have 
acrpiired  vest  magnifying   powei'. 

The  chief  ]iart  in  this  sccMie  was  undoubtedly  ^Iv.  Chris- 
tian's, although  he   h;u.l   hitherto  been    comparative!}^    silent ; 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  105 

hut  he  occupied  two  chairs  with  so  much  o^race,  throwiiif^  his 
right  leg  over  the  seat  of  tlie  second,  and  rL,-,Lii)g  his  riglit 
hand  ou  the  back  ;  he  hehl  Ids  cigar  and  disphiyed  a  splendid 
seal-ring  with  such  becoming  nonchalance,  and  had  his  gray 
hair  arranged  with  so  mueli  taste,  that  ex])erienced  eyes  would 
at  once  have  seen  even  the  great  Scales  himself  to  be  but  a 
secoiula,ry  character. 

'-  \\  hy."'  said  ]Mr.  Crowder.  an  old  respectable  tenant,  though 
much  in  arrear  as  to  his  rent,  who  condescentled  frequently  to 
driidv  in  the  steward's  room  for  the  sake  of  the  conversation  ; 
"why,  I  suppose  they  get  money  so  fast  in  tiie  East  —  it's 
wonderful.  Why,''  he  went  on,  with  a  hesitating  look  towards 
Mr.  Scales,  '•'  this  Transonic  has  ]j"raps  got  a  matter  of  a  hun- 
dred thousand." 

"  A  InuKlred  thousand,  my  dear  sir  !  hddlestick's  end  of  a 
hundred  thousand,"'  said  ]\[r.  Scales,  with  a  contempt  very 
painiul  to  be  borne  by  a  modest  man. 

'•  Well.""  said  Ml'.  CroAvder,  giving  way  under  torture,  as  the 
all-knowing  l)utler  puffed  and  stared  at  him,  '-perhaps  not  so 
much  as  tliat."' 

'•  Xot  so  nmch,  sir  I  I  tell  you  that  a  lumdred  thousand 
})0unds  is  a  bagatelle." 

'•  Well,  I  know  it 's  a  big  sum,"  said  Mr.  Crowder,  depre- 
catingly. 

Ib'i'c  thei'i^  was  a  general  laugh.  All  the  other  intellects 
present  wt'i'c   more  cultivated    than   Mr.   Crowdcr's. 

•■  b>a:-;-ateH('  is  the  French  for  tritle.  my  friend,"  said  ^\v. 
Christian.  '•  I'ldu't  talk  over  peoj)le"s  heads  so.  Scales.  I 
shall   lune  liaid  work  to  uriderstand  you  myself  soon." 

'■Conic,  tliat's  a,  good  one."  said  the  head-gardener,  who 
was  a  ready  admirer;  *' I  sliould  like  to  hear  the  thing  you 
don't  understand.  ( liristian." 

'■  lb'  's  a  lii'st-rate  hand  at  sneering."  said  Mr.  Scales,  rather 
nett'ieil. 

•■  l)(iii't  be  vv'aspisli,  man.  I  "11  ring  the  bell  for  lemons,  and 
make  suiiie  puueli.  'i'hat  "s  Hie  liiing  ior  })utti]ig  jieopli^  uj) 
to  tlie  iinkiiown  toii';-iu's."  said  .Mi',  (/liristiau,  starting  up,  and 
,8lap])ing  Scales's  shoulder  as  lie  passed  him. 


106  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

"What  I   mean,  Mr.   Crowder,  is  this."     Here   Mr.  Scales 

paused  to  puif,  aud  pull  down  his  Avaistcoat  in  a  gentlemanly 
manner,  and  drink.  He  was  wont  in  this  way  to  give  his 
hearers  time  for  meditation. 

"Come,  then,  speak  English;  I'm  not  against  being  taught," 
said  the  reasonabhi  Cruwder. 

'•  A\'h<'it  1  mean  is,  that  in  a  large  way  of  trade  a  man 
turns  his  ca|iital  over  almost  as  soon  as  he  can  turn  himself. 
Bless  your  soul !  1  know  something  about  tliese  matters,  eh, 
r>rent  ?  •' 

'•To  be  sure  you  do  —  few  men  more,"  said  the  gardener, 
who  Avas  the  }.)erson  appealed  to, 

'■Xot  thati"ve  had  anything  to  do  with  coiumercud  fanu- 
lies  myself.  I've  those  leadings  that  I  look  to  otlier  things 
besides  lucre.  Ikit  I  can't  say  that  I've  not  been  intimate 
with  jjarties  who  ljav(3  biH';i  less  nici;  than  I  am  myself:  and 
knowing  what  I  knoAV,  I  bhouidn't  wonder  if  Transonic  had  as 
much  as  live  hundred  thousand.  Bless  your  soid,  sir!  people 
wlio  get  tlieir  nioney  out  of  land  are  as  long  scrajung  live 
})Ounds  togi'iiier  as  yotir  tradiiig  nien  are  in  turning  hve 
pounds  into  a  hundred.*' 

'•'Tliat's  a  ^A'iclced  tlung,  tliough.'"  said  !Mr.  Crowder,  medita- 
tivel}'.  '•  llov.'ever,''  he  went  o]i.  reti'^'ating  from  tliis  ditlkadt 
gi'ound,  -''trade  or  no  t]"ide,  liie  Trans(;nies  liave  been  poor 
enough  this  maiiy  a  long  year.  I've  a  i»i'()llier  a  tenant  on 
tlieir  estati'—  L  (mglit  to  kn>.\v  a  little  bit  aiieut  tiiat." 

•■'  i  h'-y  '\'e  kejjt  v.]>  no  estaiiiisliment  at  ail."  said  IMr.  Scab's, 
Avitli  ili,---ust.  ''•  Tiie}' '"ve  (/vrn  let  tlieir  kitchen  gardens.  T 
Kupjie,  e  it  was  tJie  el(|(-st  son's  gainlilini:.  I  '\'e  seen  soiiK-iliiug 
of  that.  A  man  wjkj  has  always  lived  in  iir.-^t-rate  iamilies  is 
likely  to  know  a  thin^'  or  two  on  that  -ubjeet.'' 

'•  ,\li.  but  it  wasn't  ganiblinu'  di'l  tli-  iii'st  mise-hi(d',"  said 
I\lr.  ( j'ow(.i^-r,  wb'b  a  si i --ire  smile,  feeliir,;-  tlait  it  was  his  turn 
to  have  Sdju..  suiiiTiei'ily.  ■•  Xeve-eenu  rs  don't  know  what 
]ia](pened  in  tlos  eeimiry  1 -vnty  ami  iliii-ty  yeai's  ago.  I'm 
t,M:ai''d  fifty  niyseli.  and  ]nx  iatli'i-  livd]  uiulei'  Sir  .^blXun)'s 
fatlau'.  i!ut  ii'  ;inybii(l\-  {mm  beinajii  e;iii  tell  nc  more  tijan  I 
kni/w  ai-out  this  eouiu  sy-- i-b',  I  "a;  wil.ing  U)  listen." 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADTC^AL.  107 

"What  was  it,  then,  if  it  wasn't  <:^anil)ling  ? "  said  JNIr. 
Scales,  with  some  impatience,     •'  I  don't  }iretend  to  know." 

''It  was  law  —  law  —  that's  what  it  was.  Not  but  what 
the  Transomes  always  Avon." 

"  And  always  lost,"  said  the  too-ready  Scales.  "Yes,  yes  ;  I 
think  we  all  knovr  the  nature  of  law." 

"  There  was  the  last  suit  of  all  made  the  most  noise,  as  I 
understood,"  continued  .Mr.  Crowder ;  '•'but  it  wasn't  tried 
hereabout.  They  said  there  was  a  deal  o'  false  swt^aring. 
Some  young  m;'n  ])i'etendcd  to  be  the  true  lunr  —  let  me  see  — 
I  can't  justly  remember  the  names  —  he'd  got  two.  He  swcjre 
he  was  one  man,  and  flu'if  swore  he  was  another.  However, 
Lawyer  Jermyn  won  it  —  they  say  he 'd  win  a  game  against 
the  Old  One  himsidf  —  and  the  young  fellow  turned  out  to 
be  a  scamp.  Sto])  a  bit  —  his  name  was  Scaddou  —  Henry 
Scaddon." 

Mr.  Christian  here  let  a  lemon  slip  from  his  hand  into  tJie 
punch-bowl  with  a  ]»lash  which  sent  some  of  the  nectar  into 
the  comiiany's  laces. 

"  ILallo  I  W'liat  a  bungler  T  am  !  "  he  said,  looking  as  if 
iie  were  (jnite  jaired  liy  this  unusual  awkwai'ilness  of  his. 
"(ro  on  witli  your  tale,  Mr.  Crowder  —  a  scamp  named  Hemy 
Scaddon.*' 

'•'  Well,  that  's  the  tale,"'  said  ^Ir.  Crowder.  '''Lie  was  never 
seen  nothiicj;  of  any  moi'e.  It  was  a  deal  talked  of  at  the  time 
—  and  I've  sat  by:  and  my  father  used  to  shake  his  head; 
and  always  when  iliis  Mrs.  'I'laiisoine  wa--  talked  of,  lie  used  to 
shake  hi-^  lieail.  and  say  slie  caia-ied,  1  lunys  wii  h  a  high  hand  eiieo. 
Hut.  Lord  I  it  was  liefure  1  lie  hall  !e  oi'  Wat iiloo.  ami  i  'm  a  i)oor 
hand  at  tales;  I  don't  soc  nnudi  ;^(>od  in  'i-m  myself  —  but  if 
anybody  "11  tell  nii'  a  cure  tur  llic  sheep-rot    i  '11  tliank  him." 

{b're  Mr.  Crowdei'  rtda  |i>ed  into  smoking  and  silence,  a  lift  le 
d  i  scorn  I  i  ted  that  t  li-'  kaKtwdi'd-v  id'  v.dii(di  he  had  l>een  deli  vi' red, 
had.  turned  out  rather  a  sliapid^ss  and  insignilieatit  liiuli, 

"■'  We]  b  well,  by  "'lines  slmuld  l)e  lyu-niics;  tliere  an>  se<a'els 
in  most  u'ood  fami  li^s,"'  said  AL\  Scales.  M-iid<iim-.  ••'and  this 
yiiuu'.;'  Traiisome.  coniine;  bark  villi  a  fortune  in  keep  ni>  the 
estalilishment,  and  have  thiii';.-   doue   in  a  decent  and   gtuitle- 


108  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

manly  way  —  it  would  all  have  heen  right  if  he  'd  not  beeu 
tins  sort  of  Radical  madman.  But  now  he's  done  for  himself. 
I  heard  Sir  Maximus  say  at  dinner  that  he  would  be  excom- 
municated ;  and  that 's  a  ])r(4ty  strong  word,  I  take  it." 

"AVhat  does  it  mean,  Scales?"'  said  Mr.  Christian,  who 
loved  tormenting. 

'•'Ay,  wliat  's  the  meaning?  "  insisted  IMr.  Cr. )wder,  encour- 
r.ged  by  hnding  that  even  Christian  was  in  the  dark. 

"Well,  it  "s  a  law  term  —  speaking  in  a  hgurative  sort  of 
way  —  meaning  that  a  Radical  was  no  gentleman." 

"Perha})S  it's  ])artly  accounted  for  by  his  getting  his  money 
so  fast,  and  in  foreign  countries. '"  .said  Mr.  Crowder.  tenta- 
tividy.  '•  It  "s  reasonable  to  thiidv  he  "d  be  against  the  land 
and  this  counti'v  —  eh.  Sircome  ?  "' 

Sircome  was  an  eminent  miller  who  had  considerable  busi- 
ness transactions  at  the  ^Nbinor,  and  appreciated  ^Ir.  Scales"s 
merits  at  a  liamlsome  percentage  on  tlie  yearly  account.  He 
Avas  a  highly  honorable  tradesman,  but  in  this  and  in  other 
matters  submitted  to  the  institutions  of  his  country  ;  for  great 
liouses,  as  lie  observed,  must  have  great  butlers.  He  replied 
to  his  friend  Crowder  sententiously. 

'•'  r  say  not! ling.  Before  T  bring  words  to  market.  T  should 
like  to  see  "em  a  bit  scarcer.  Tlier*^  's  the  land  and  there  's 
li-ade —  I  hold  with  both.      I  swim  villi  ilie  stream."" 

'■  lby-da\".  Mr.  Sircome  !  tliat  "s  a  Radieal  m;i?vim."'  said  Ml 
Christian,  wlio  knew  that  ]\lr.   Sii'coiiie's  last  SenlenrM>  vas  his 
favorite    loi-mula.      '"I    advice  ynu   to  give  it    ii]>.   else   it  will 
injurt^  tlie   (paadity  of  your  floui'."' 

"A  Ra.iliead  maxim  I  ""  said  ]\lr.  Sircome.  in  a  tone  of  angry 
astonishment.  '•' T  should  lil^e  to  hear  you  ])rove  tliat.  It's 
as  old  as  my  •^randlatliei'.  aiiyhov.-."' 

''  L  "11  ]Mov<'  it  in  one  miimte."'  said  the  glib  Christian. 
"^Reiorm  lias  set  in  bv  the  will  of  1lie-  majority  —  that's  the 
r.alil.'ie.  \->\\  kiiie,\-;  -nid  the  res])ee1  abiiitv  and  good  sense  of 
thf^  couni  I'y.  which  are  iu  the  minority,  are  aiVaid  of  Reform 
running  on  loo  last".  So  the  sti'eam  ninst  f>e  running  titwards 
befoi'm  ami  b'ailiealisni  ;  and  if  you  sAvini  witli  it.  ^Fr.  Sircome, 
you're  a  Reformer  and  a  Radical,  autl  your  tlonr  is  objection' 


FELIX    HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  109 

al)le,  and  not  full  weight  —  and  being  tried  by  Scales,  will  be 
I'ound  wanting.'' 

There  was  a  roar  of  laughtcv.  This  pun  upon  Scales  was 
liigldy  ajipreciated  by  every  one  except  tlie  miller  and  the 
butler.  The  latter  pulled  down  his  waistcoat,  and  puffed  and 
stared  in  rather  an  excited  manner.  Mr.  Christian's  wit,  in 
general,  seemed  to  him  a  poor  kind  of  quibbling. 

''What  a  fellow  you  are  for  fence,  Christian,"  said  the  gar- 
dener.    '•  Ifang  me,  if  I  don"t  think  you  're  up  to  everything."' 

"That's  a  compliment  you  iniglit  pay  Old  Xick,  if  3'ou 
come  to  that,"  said  ^Ir.  Sin.'ome,  who  was  in  the  painful  posi- 
tion of  a  man  dc})rived  of  his  formula. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  ^Ir.  Scales  ;  '•'!  'm  no  fool  myself,  and  could 
[larry  a  thrust  if  I  liked,  but  I  should  n't  like  it  to  be  said  of 
me  that  1  was  up  to  everything.  I  '11  keep  a  little  princijde  if 
you  ])leaso.'' 

''  To  be  sun',"  saiil  Christian,  ladling  out  the  punch.  "  What 
would  jusMi'O  be  withnut  Scales?'' 

Thi'  lau-rhtcr  was  not  ouite  so  full-throated  as  before.  Such 
excessive  cleverness  n-as  a  little  Satanic. 

'•A  joki'  "s  a  j<ike'  among  geiitlenuMi."  said  th(>  butler,  getting 
''■xasperated  ;  ••  1  think  there  has  been  rpiite  libeilies  enough 
<a!-;en  wilh  my  name.  ]',ut  if  you  must  talk  about  names.  T  've 
!i  ard  of  a  ))ai'ty  before  now  calling  himself  a  Christian,  and 
'icing  anytliinu'  Imf  \\ ." 

•'■'Come,  that's  beyond  a  jok(\''  said  the  surgeon's  assistant. 
-  fast  man.  whose  cliiel  scene  of  dissipation  was  the  IManor. 
•■  Let  it  dro]).  Scales." 

'•Yes,  T  (lai'c  say  it's  beyond  a  joke.  I'm  not  a  harlequin 
to  talk  nothing  but  jokes.  I  leave  that  to  <ithe]'  Christians, 
who  are  ui)  to  everything,  and  liave  bt'iai  eveiwwhere  —  to  the 
hnll;s.  fdf  what  T  know;  and  moi'e  than  that,  thev  come  from 
nobotb,-  knows  wliere.  and  try  to  woiaa  lliemselves  into  gentle- 
men'-; ci>ntiilenc'\  to  tht'  preju'lii-i^  of  tlieir  betters." 

'fliiTO  was  a  stricter  seouence  in  T-Ii.'.  Srade-;'s  angrv  cl'"-n  nice 
than  AA-,;s  aj'oai'cnt  —  son.ie  chief  links  ljeiin:r  continei]  to  his 
own  lii-east.  as  is  ofM-n  tlie  ci^e  in  energetic  disr'nni'^e.  Tlie 
f^onijiany  were  in  a  state  of  i'X]"'ctatiun.     There  was  sonietliing 


110  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

behind  worth  knowing,  and  sonietliing  before  them  worth  see- 
ing. In  tlie  general  decay  of  other  tine  British  pugnacious 
sports,  a  quarrel  between  gentlemen  was  all  '  he  more  exciting, 
and  though  no  one  wouhl  himself  have  liked  to  turn  on  Scales, 
no  one  was  sorry  for  the  chance  of  seeing  him  put  down.  Ihit 
the  amazing  Christian  was  unmoved.  He  had  taken  out  his 
handkerchirf  and  was  rubV)ing  liis  li^js  carefully.  After  a 
slight  pause,  he   spoke  with  perfect   ('(/(ilness. 

"I  don't  intend  to  quarrel  with  you.  Scales.  Such  talk  as 
this  is  not  prohtabl-  to  either  of  us.  It  makes  you  purple  in 
the  face  —  you  or/v:  apoplectic,  you  know  —  and  it  spoils  good 
company.  Better  tidl  a  fi!w  hbs  a'oout  me  'ut-hind  my  back  — 
it  will  heat  you  less,  and  do  me  more  harm.  I  '11  leave  you  to 
it;  I  shall  go  and  have  a  game  at  whist  witli  thi;  ladies.'' 

As  the  door  closed  behind  the  questionable  Christian,  Mv. 
Scales  was  in  a  state  of  frustration  that  prevented  speech. 
Every  one  was  rather  e]nl)arrassed. 

"  That  "s  a  most  uncommon  sort  o'  fellow,''  s;ud  'Mr.  Crowder, 
in  an  itndertoiie,  to  his  next  neighbor,  tlie  gardener.  --AVhy, 
^Ir.  Philip  picked  him  up  in  foreign  jiarts,  did  n't  he  ?  " 

"Ho  was  a  courier,''  said  tlie  gardener.  '■  ITi; 's  had  a  deal 
of  experience.  And  I  lielieve.  in'  what  I  can  make  out  —  for 
he's  been  pretty  free  witli  me  sometiuK^s  —  tiiere  was  a  time 
when  ill'  was  in  that  ranlc  of  lii'e  Ili;it  lie  fougiit  a  duel.'' 

"Ah  I  that  makes  him  sui-li  a  cool  eh;!]).""  saiil  Mr.  Crowder. 

*•  He  "s  \\  hat  I  call  an  overbi'ariuLj,  fellow."' said  .Mi-.  Sii'come, 
also  s'l/f'j  rnrr.  to  his  next  ui-ighbor.  .Mr.  l-^iiinon'.  tlie  surgeon's 
asslslaiii;.  '-He  runs  you  down  with  a  sort  of  talk  that's 
ni'itlHU'  hei-e  uor  there.  He's  got.  a^  CwA  too  many  sam]>les  in 
his  jioeket    tor  me." 

'•'All  I  know  is.  he's  a  wonderful  hand  at  cards."  said  ^Ir. 
Filmore.  whose  whisbers  and  sliiit-j'in  AVcrf  (juite  a!)Ove  the 
averag''.  •'  I  wish  I  enidd  play  rrnrtr  ;is  he  does:  it's  beauti- 
ful to  see  him:  he  (Mil  make  a  man  look  jjretty  blue —  he'll 
em[)tv  his  ]ioc]:ct  lor  liim  in  no  lime."' 

"That's  nnno  to  his  (■I'^dil."'  s;iid  .Mr.  Sircome. 

The  convtu-satioii  had  in  this  sva\-  broken  u])  into  1vfc-^i-tefi\ 
and   the  liilarity  of  the  i'^enin'4  luiglit    be  considered  a  failure. 


FELIX   HOLT,    'J'lIE   RADICAL.  ill 

Still  the  puncli  was  druuk,  tlu;  accounts  were  duly  swelled, 
and,  iiotwitlistandiiig  tlr.'  innovatinn;  si)irit  of  the  time,  Sir 
i\[axinius  JA'barry's  estaljlishnient  was  kept  up  in  a  sound 
hereditary  Ikitisli  manner. 


chai^ii:k  yiii. 

Ituinor  doth  dniililc  like  the  v(jire  and  echo. 

SiiAKi;<pi;.VKE. 

The  mind  of  a  man  is  as  a  count ly  wliich  was  once  ojien  to  sijiiattcrs,  wlio 
ha\e  lii'cd  and  muliij.licd  and,  !  ccomc  in;i-li  I's  <d'  tlic  ];uid.  l!ui  then  haiijien- 
eih  a  tiiiu'  wlu'ii  ]\r\v  and  hun-'i-y  comers  distmle  ihc  land;  ami  tiiere  is 
trial  of  s;i'ii:;ji!i.  and  the  slron-cr  wins.  >sr\  .I'i  liclcss  tin-  lii-s!  si|uatters  lie 
tlie\  whu  li;;\i'  jircjiavcd  tlu;  i;i-oiiiid,  and  ihe  ci-i>]is  lo  tiic  cndi  will  lie  sei^uent 
(ilioiiL^h  cl;i(  iiv  ijii  tlie  liaiiin.'  of  liic  .-oil,  a.^  of  lii:;hl  sandij  inixed  luani,  or 
hea\y  chiy,  yet)  soniewiiat  on  the  primal  hihor  and  sowing. 

Tjiat  talkative  niaidiMi.  liuinor.  tliou'dt  in  tlie  iiitei'cst  of  art 
she  is  ii;4'iirnl  as  a  youlhful  win^Til  l>o:'-,;ty  ^viIh  HmviiiL,'  i:;ar- 
luenis.  soariii;_:;  al»()ve  the  h(>ai]s  of  nicii.  a.::d  hrc^atliini;  A\"()rl(l- 
thi'lllinL,^  iiev.'s  throii',;-]!  a  .u'l-ioofully  cr.i'vil  tniiuj.ol-.  is  in  fact 
a  very  old  laaah  avIu)  jmk  hers  licf  silly  f;ic(-  ],y  the  iircside, 
and  rcallv  does  no  tiinro  than  chirp  a  v.i'on;,:  cruoi.'s  or  a  lame 
stci'y  intii  the  car  o!'  a.  fVlhiAV-,o-('s>  i[i  ;  ;:1  ti:c-  j-ost  cf  tlu'  woi'k 
nttrihut  '1  to  hor  is  ihaic  liy  111-  or;]:;!;--',-  Av.>rhia;:  of  llicsc 
]iassions  a'4':iii;,>t  vviiich  n;on  Jiriiy  i;;  Ih'-  !.'.  ;'iy.  Avith  (ho  Iiidp 
of  a  plcMitilul  st;;pi'.lity  ;i'4-;iin<t  wiiich  we  h:;\-c  ns.'ver  yet  had 
tmv  aulhoriz'-d  foi-in  of  pi-,",ycr. 

AVIien  .Mr.  >c;!h's's  sti'tai'^-  ih'ci]  tn  mril-'j""  an  iiii]ir('ssiv(,>  fii::nre 
ill  convcrsat  inn.  tic.rctln'i^  Avirli,  h's  vovy  s'i  ;i:!,  nocd  df  any 
other  ja-omisc  tl:-;'i  hi,;  own  sc:;  "  o!  I:' ;  v/i:]-,'  C'cLcral  kiiowl- 
oo-o  and  iiroh::lhj  inl'a'l'iiihty.  1  d  h'ai  to  s}  eoiiy  hvo  huii- 
(hvd  thousand  as  tho  l.-wcsi,  rio  :  i.-dHe  aiaoaiit  of  Harold 
TnmS' an^'s  c.'ninaTcd.aoy  a'"Tjni:--i|  J'"r;nno.  it  avss  not  fail'  to 
]inr  this  (loAvn  to'  j'"!-  oil  ^;;-:,  !;unioi'.  A\dio  ]i:;-l  I'aly  told 
Scales  that  the  fcu'tuue  was    c(Misidcrable.     And   again,  when 


112  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

the  curt  Mr.  Sircome  found  occasion  at  Trcljy  to  mention  fhe 
five  liundred  thousand  as  a  fact  that  folks  seemed  pretty  sure 
about,  this  expansion  of  the;  buthjr  into  ■■  folks  "  was  entirely 
due  to  .Mr.  Sircome's  habitual  preference  for  -woi'ds  Avhich 
could  not  be  laid  hold  of  or  give  people  a  handle  over  him. 
It  was  in  this  sim2)le  way  that  the  report  <jf  JIarold  Transome's 
fortiiiu;  spj'ead  iind  was  magnified,  adding  nuu-h  lustre  to  his 
(Opinions  in  the  eyes  of  Liberals,  and  eonipcdling  even  men  of 
the  op[)Osite  party  to  admit  that  it  increasc-d  his  eligibility  as 
a  memb(;r  for  X(jrtli  Lojimshire.  It  was  observed  1a-  a  sound 
thinker  in  these  jjarts  that  proj)erty  was  ballast;  and  when 
once  the  aptness  of  that  metaphor  had  bc(,'n  pci'ccived,  it  fol- 
lowed that  a  man  was  not  fit  to  navigate  the  scli  of  jxilitics 
without  a  great  d('al  cd'  such  ballast;  and  that,  rightly  under- 
st(jod,  whatever  in(n-easi:d  tlu;  cxiifHs;;  of  election,  inasmuch  as 
it  virtually  I'aised  the  prope'rty  (pialilie'ation,  was  an  unspeak- 
able boon  to  the  country. 

Meanwhile  the  fortune  that  was  getting  larger  in  IIh;  imagina- 
tion of  constituents  was  shriid<iiig  a  iiitle  in  the  ini;iginati(ni 
of  its  owner.  It  was  hardly  moi'c  than  a  hundi'cd  and  fifty 
thousand  :  and  tliei'e  wci'e  not  oidy  tlic  hc;!\'y  Jiioilgiigcs  to  be 
j»aid  off,  l)ut  also  alargf>  amount  of  cn])ital  \v;is  necfh'd  in  oi'ilcr 
to  re]);iir  the  farmdjuildings  all  over  the  estntf,  to  carry  out 
extfnsive  draining;  and  make  allowances  to  iuconnng  tenants, 
which  might  i-i'inovc  tlir;  dillicult.y  of  newly  hitt.ing  tin;  fai'ms  in 
a  time  of  agi'iculturnl  depression.  The  farms  actually  ten- 
aiited  were  held  l)y  ineii  who  h.'id.  begged  hai'd  to  succeed  their 
['athei'S  in  getting  a  little  ])oorer  evei'V  ye;ir,  ou  hind  which 
was  also  getling  poorei',  where  the  Jughest  I'ate  of  increase 
was  in  the  ari'eiii'S  of  I'cnt,  and  where  tlie,  muster,  in  ciaished 
hat  and  ef)i'(lui'oys,  lookiMJ  ])itiably  le;iii  and  care-woi'ii  by  the 
siih;  of  paujiei'  l;iboi'(!rs,  who  sliowed  tliat  sujitrioi'  a.Nsimilating 
])Ower  (jfleii  olisci'vei]  lo  attend  iieiii-i.diment  1)\'  Un-  jjublic 
mciuey.  ^fi-.  'loffe,  of  !;;il)iiit ".;  Ihel.  had  nevei  had  it  CX- 
jilained  to  him  that,  aeeording-  to  tlie  liaa:  iJieoi^y  (ji'  i-enl,  land 
nnist  inevitably  l)e  given  uj)  wli(;n  it  would  not  yield  a  profit 
c'jual  to  the  ordinal'}'  ratr-  of  in1ei-i'..j  ;  so  that  from  want  of 
knowing  v/hat  was  ineviiable^  ami  ik,!,  iimii  a  'I'itauie  ;  pirit  of 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  113 

opposition,  he  kept  on  his  land.  He  oftcni  said  of  himself, 
with  a  melancholy  wipe  of  liis  sleeve  across  his  brow,  that  he 
'•did  lit  know  which-a-way  to  turn  ;  "  and  he  would  have  been 
still  more  at  a  loss  on  the  sid)ject  if  he  had  r[uitted  L'abbit's  End 
with  a  wagonful  of  furniture  ami  utensils,  a  lile  of  receipts,  a 
wife  with  five  children,  and  a  shepherd-dog  in  low  spirits. 

It  took  no  long  time  for  Plarold  Transonic  to  discover  this 
state  of  things,  and  to  see,  moreover,  that,  except  on  the 
demesne  immediately  around  the  house,  the  timber  had  been 
mismanaged.  Tlie  woods  had  been  recklessly  thinned,  and 
there  had  been  insufficient  planting.  He  had  not  yet  thor- 
oughly investigated  the  various  accounts  kept  by  his  mother, 
by  Jermyn,  and  by  Banks  the  baililf  :  but  what  had  been  done 
with  the  large  sums  which  had  been  received  for  timber  was  a 
suspicious  mystery  to  him.  He  observed  that  the  fp.rm  ludd 
by  Jermyn  was  in  iirst-rate  order,  that  a  good  deal  had  been 
spent  on  the  buildings,  and  that  the  rent  had  stood  unpaid, 
]\[rs.  Trausome  had  taken  an  op})orti;nity  of  saying  that  Jermyn 
had  had  souk;  of  the  mortgage-deeds  transferred  to  him,  and 
that  his  rent  was  set  against  so  much  interest.  Harold  had 
only  saiil,  in  liis  carcdcss  _yot  decisive  v>'ay,  '•  (^h,  Jermyn  be 
hanged  I  It  seems  to  me  if  Dui'fey  had  n't  died  and  made 
ro(un  b)r  me,  Jermyn  would  have  ended  by  coming;  to  liv(>  lier(>, 
and  you  would  have  bad  to  keep  the  lodge  a.iid  oj 'en  the  gate  for 
his  carriage.  Ihit  [  shall  ])i\y  him  olf —  morlgages  and  all  — 
by-and-by.  T  "II  owe  him  notldu';'  —  not  eviui  a  curse."  ^frs. 
'J'ransome  said  no  nioi'e.  Hai'old  did  not  care  to  enter  i'ully 
into  the  subject  with  his  mother.  'Idie  fact  that  she  had.  been 
active  in  the  management  of  the  estate  —  Iiad  I'id.dcn  about  it 
continually,  had  busied  hers(lfwith  accounts,  had  btnai  head- 
bailiff  of  the  vacant  farms,  and  had  yet  allowi-d  things  to  go 
wrong  —  was  set  down  l)y  hijii  simjdy  to  tli'-  genei-al  futility 
of  wouKUi's  attempts  to  tra.nsaet  men's  business.  He  did  not 
want  to  say  anything  to  annoy  h.er  :  ln^  was  oid v  det  ■i:niti"d 
to  let  her  understand,  as  (piietly  as  possible,  tliat  she  liad 
better  eeast^  all   inter fenuiee. 

Mrs.  Transonu'  (lid  understand  this;  and  it  was  very  little 
that   kIio    dar^'d    to    s:;y  i-u    1),;    i;.  ■   s.  though    there  was   a  fierce 

VOL.  III.  a 


114  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

struggle  of  her  anger  and  pride  with  a  dread  which  was  never- 
theless supreme.  As  to  the  old  tenants,  she  only  observed, 
on  hearing  Harold  burst  forth  about  their  wretehed  condition, 
"  that  with  the  estate  so  burthened,  i]u;  yearly  h)ss  by  arrears 
could  better  be  borne  than  the  outlay  and  sacrifice  necessary 
in  order  to  let  the  farms  anew." 

'•  I  was  really  cajiable  of  calculating.  Harohl."'  sb.e  ended, 
with  a  touch  of  bitterness.  "  It  seems  easy  to  deal  with  farm- 
ers and  their  affairs  Avhen  you  only  see  thorn  in  print,  I  dare 
say;  but  it  "s  not  cprite  so  easy  wlieii  you  livt-  anuing  them. 
You  have  oidy  to  look  at  Sir  Ma.ximus's  estate  :  yon  will  see 
plenty  of  the  s;au'.'  rhhig.  The  times  h:ive  been  dreadful,  and 
old  families  like  to  keep  their  old  tenants.  lUit  1  ilare  say 
that  is  Toryism.*' 

"  It  "s  a  hash  (jf  oilds  and  ends,  if  that  is  Tovyisin,  my  dear 
mother.  However,  I  wish  you  had  ke})t  three  more  old  ten- 
ants ;  for  then  I  should  have  hnd  three  more  fil'ty-pound 
voters.  And,  in  a  hard  run,  one  may  i.)e  beateii  hy  a  h(\ad. 
I!ut,'"  Harold  added,  smiling  arid  handii!;;-  liei-  n  ball  ol'  worsted 
Avliich  had  fallen,  '-'a  wori'.an  e.ught  to  be  a  T(U'y.  and  graceful, 
a.nd  handsome,  like  you.  I  sliould  hate  a  woman  wlio  tnok  up 
my  o[)i!iioiis,  and  talked  for  me.  I  'la  an  ( )rie]it;il.  yen  know. 
I  say,  nn.tle'r,  slinll  wo  liave  this  vnciin  iuruisliei]  with  rose- 
eoloi- ?     I  notie'c  that  it  suits  your  briu'lit  •j:ray  h;iir.'' 

Harold  tliou'^-ht  it  was  only  n;;tural  tlia^;  his  m'^tla^r  shoidd 
have  b^'i  n  in  a  sort  of  siibjretion  to  Jermyn  tbrnii'^lirjut  the 
.;:v>'kward  eirennistauecs  "f  ;lie  fe,inil\'.  I<"  was  th'>  way  of 
woi:ieii,  ajal  all  weak  miads,  to  ik'ak  that  Avliat  Ihey  had  been 
use'l  to  was  inalterable,  and  any  ojana-el  -.villi  a  m  in  who  man- 
a'^^ed  ],i'ivate  affairs  was  necessarily  a  formidalile  thiie-T-  He 
hiiaseir  \vas  ] iroeef'diiig  very  eautioiL-.ly.  ami  iireferr(^il  n.o'L  even 
to  know  too  mneh  jn>t  at  pri'-'-at.  a'>t  a  e^Ttain  }'ersonal  antijv 
athy  he  was  ennseions  of  Inwards  Jennx'n.  and  an  oeeasion;il  lia- 
bility to  ex;: -^jieration.  slmnld  gi "^  the  1m'1  t:'i' oi' a  ealm  and  (dear- 
sii^lited  resolv','  not  to  r|narrel  with  the  man  wliilf  le-  could  be 
f  f  use.  Hai'nld  v>"ouh]  ]i:\\{}  beej-i  dis'_;-nsted  ',vith  himself  if  he 
lael  helped  to  iVu-trat.'  his  ov/n  ruroo-^e.  And  his  strongest 
purpose  now  was  to  get  ]-eturned   for   J'arlianient,  to   make  a 


FELIX    HOLT,    THE   EADICAL.  115 

figure  tliere  as  a  Liberal  lueinber,  and  to  become  on  all  grounds 
a  pci-sonage  of  weight  in  North  Loamshire. 

l[()\v  Harold  Transonic  came  to  be  a  Liberal  in  opposition  to 
all  tlie  traditions  of  his  family,  was  a  more  subtle  inquiry  than 
he  hail  ever  cared  to  follow  out.  Tiie  newspapers  undertook  to 
fxplain  it.  The  '•  Xorth  Loaiashire  Ib-rald ''  witnessed  with  a 
grief  and  disgust  certain  t(^  be  shared  by  all  persons  who  were 
actuated  by  wholesome  Lrltlsh  feeling,  an  example  of  defec- 
tion in  the  inheritor  of  a  family  name  which  in  times  past 
had  been  associated  with  attaclimeut  to  right  princii)le,  and 
with  tlie  maintenance  of  our  constitution  in  Cliurch  and  State  : 
and  pointed  to  it  as  an  addiiiijual  proof  that  men  who  had 
}iasscd  any  large  jiortion  of  their  lives  beyond  the  limits  of 
our  favored  country,  usually  contracted  not  only  a  laxity  of 
fetdlng  towards  Lrotiv^Laniism,  nay,  towards  religion  itself  —  a 
latltuilinarlan  spirit  hardly  distinguishable  from  atlieism  —  but 
also  a  levity  oT  di-~position,  inducing  them  to  tam})er  with 
1  hosi"'  institutions  ]y  which  alone  (Jreat  liritain  had  risen  to 
hi'r  pre-iuriirieiiee  anion-;  the  nations.  Sueh  men.  infecti'd  v/ith 
outlandish  liabib^.  iut(jxl('at(Ml  with  vanity,  graspiiig  at  nuimen- 
tary  power  bv  tlalb'ry  of  the  multittule,  f(>arless  because  god- 
less, liberal  because  uu-Mngllsh,  wvvq  rrady  to  jiuU  one  stone 
from  uudo'V  ina'ihrr  in  the  national  eiliiiee,  till  tlii^  great  struc- 
tiiro  tott(!reil  to  it-  tall.  On  the  other  hatul,  tie'  ■•Dultield 
W'ateliuian  ""  saw  in  this  signal  iu'^tanee  of  soil-liberation  {'rom 
the  tra!iiuud>  of  pr(>]'u(lice.  a  di'ei-i\-e  guar,Mite.>  ot  inti'Ilectual 
;ire-emiiieue(\  unit'-il  with  a.  geiiorotts  stuisiliility  to  the  elaims 
iif  man  as  man.  vhioh  had  burst  asuud-u'  and  cast  o,ff.  by  a 
siHiiitaneoii-  exi'i'l  ;on  f;!'  energy,  the  cramjiing  out-worn  shell 
ot  hrreditary  bias  and  rlass  intei'i'st. 

Hut  these  lar'_C"-minded  Lruilcs  of  public  opinion  argu<'d 
t'roiu  wider  data  llia.n  eouM  Ijc  luianslii'd  \)y  anv  knowleilgt^  of 
the  'particular  rase  concerned.  Ilai'old  Transome  was  m-itleM- 
the  dissoluti'  cos!no]>olitan  so  viLTorously  sketidu'il  by  the  Toi'y 
'•  ITe'rald,""  nor  thi'  inttdleetual  -'iant  and  moral  lr)bster  sug- 
^-evfi'd,  by  the  liboral  imaudnatie,ii  im'  lho  ''  Watclnaan.*"  Twenty 
yea.rs  .•■_;:o  hi'  had  boen  a  briudit.  aiMi'.-e.  ';ood-trmjii  r.  '1  lid.  with 
sharp  eyes  and  a  good  aim  ;    he  dtdighted  in  suee^.-s  and   in 


116  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL. 

predominance  ;  out  he  did  not  long  for  an  iiapussible  predomi- 
nance, and  Ixffome  sour  and  sulky  befause  it  was  impossible. 
He  played  at  the  games  he  was  clever  iii;  and  usually  won  ;  all 
other  games  he  let  alone,  and  thought  them  of  little  worth. 
At  home  and  at  Eton  he  had  been  side  by  side  with  his  stupid 
elder  brrithf-r  ])ni-fey.  whom  he  despised;  and  he  very  early 
began  to  reflect  that  since  this  Caliban  in  miniature  was  older 
than  himself,  he  must  carve  out  his  own  fortune.  That  was 
a  nuisance  :  and  on  the  whole  the  world  seemed  r;ither  ill- 
arranged,  at  Eton  especially,  where  there  were  many  reasons 
wh}-  Harold  made  no  great  flgure.  He  was  not  sorry  the 
money  was  wanting  to  send  him  to  Oxford;  he  did  not  see  the 
good  of  Oxford  :  he  had  been  surroundnd  by  many  things  dur- 
ing his  short  life,  of  v.diich  he  had  distinctly  -aid  tn  himself 
that  he  did  not  see  the  good,  and  be  was  not  disposed  tc>  vene- 
rate on  the  strength  of  any  good  that  others  saw.  He  turned 
liis  back  on  home  very  clieerfully,  though  he  was  rather  fond 
of  his  mother,  and  very  fond  of  Transome  Court,  and  the  river 
where  he  had  been  used  to  fish;  but  he  said  to  hims^'lf  as  he 
passed  tlie  lodge-gates.  '•  I  "11  get  rich  somidiow.  ami  have  an 
estate  of  my  own,  and  do  what  T  like  with  it.''  Tliis  di^cr- 
nnned  aiming  at  something  not  easy  but  elearly  p^s-ilile. 
mai-kcd  tlie  direetion  in  which  Harold's  nature  was  strong; 
111' had  till'  energetic  will  and  muscli'.  the  sc'ii-ennliih'nec,  tlie 
quick  perception,  and  the  narrow  imaginati<ui  wliidi  make 
v\"bat   is  admifingly  called   the   practical   mind. 

Since  tli'Mi  Kis  cli.aractcr  liad  been  ]'i|K>n(Ml  by  a  varinus  expe- 
I'ieiice.  and  al~o  \,y  inucli  knowb'dge  which  be  liai]  set  himselF 
delibei'ately  to  gain.  Ibit  tlie  man  was  no  moi'e  than  the  bijy 
writ  lar;.:e.  with  an  extensive  comnientai'y.  The  vrars  had 
nourished  an  inclination  to  as  much  o}i[io-ition  as  would  en- 
able him  to  assert  his  own  indejieiidciici.  ;iii(l  jiowet'  v/itliout 
throwing;  himself  intr)  tliat  taboded  condition  which  I'olis  ])0wer 
of  its  tianmiih.  And  this  inclination  ji;id  ]ielj)ed  his  shrewd- 
ness in  forming  juilLrnients  v.-jiicli  wrn>  at  once  inn.ovating 
and  moderate.  He  wa>  addicted  at  once  to  reljellion  and  to 
oonfornnty,  and  only  an  intimate  pei-sonal  h'nowledge  could 
enable  any  one  to    pi'eiii'.'t  wliei'e   his  coubjrmitv  would   begin. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  117 

The  limit  was  not  defined  by  theory,  but  was  drawn  iu  aii  irregiv 
hir  zigzag  by  early  disposition  and  association ;  and  his  resolu- 
tion, of  which  he  had  never  lost  hold,  to  be  a  thorough  Eng- 
lishman again  some  day,  had  kept  up  the  habit  of  considering 
all  his  conclusions  with  reference  to  English  politics  and  Eng- 
lish social  conditions.  He  meant  to  stand  up  for  every  change 
that  th(>  economical  condition  of  the  country  re(j^uired,  and  he 
had  an  angry  contempt  for  men  with  coronets  on  their  coaches, 
but  too  small  a  share  of  brains  to  see  when  they  had  better 
make  a  virtue  of  necessity.  His  respect  was  rather  for  men 
who  had  no  coronets,  but  who  achieved  a  just  influence  by  fur- 
thering all  measures  which  the  common-sense  (»f  the  country, 
and  the  increasing  self-assertion  of  the  uuijority,  peremp- 
torily demanded.      He  could  be  such  a  man  himself. 

In  fact  Harold  Transome  was  a  clever,  frank,  good-natured 
egoist;  not  stringently  consistent,  but  without  any  disposi- 
tion to  falsity  ;  prouil.  Imt  ^\ith  a  pride  that  was  moulilcd  in 
an  indivi'iual  rather  than  an  liei'(>diiaiy  form:  unspcculal  ive, 
un->ciuiuiciir;d.  unsympatlictic  ;  fond  of  s(Misual  pleasures, 
but  (li^-inclined  to  a!!  vice,  and  attaclied  iis  a,  lieallliy.  cleai'- 
sightf>'l  pers')ii.  to  all  conventional  nioi'ality.  const riieil  with 
a  cei-taiii  freeddiii.  ]\\<o  doctrinal  articl(\^  to  \\-liich  ilie  |)ub- 
lic  oi'dei-  may  re(piire  subscription.  A  character  is  apt  to 
look  but  indilTerentl v,  wi'itten  out  in  lliis  way.  ]vednce(l  to  a 
map.  oui'  preiaisi'S  ,>ei'm  insignilicant.  l>ul  they  make,  neverlhe- 
les-;.  a  vei'v  jii'i'lty  IVeehold  to  live  ill  and  \val!<  over;  and  so, 
i!  Harold  Ti-ansome  had  1)'mmi  among  }'oui'  acrpiainlances,  and 
you  had  observed  his  qualities  fhrough  the  medium  oi'  liis 
;;gi'eeable  person,  biaglit  sniih".  and  a  eei'tain  easy  cdiai'iii  which 
;tccom])anies  sensuousness  \\dien  unsullied  by  coarseness  — 
tlirough  the  medium  also  of  1h"  nianv  opji'irtunities  in  whiidi 
he  would  have  made  himsidf  useful  or  i^lea'^ant  to  yon — you 
would  have  thought  him  a  good  f'-llow.  hi^Idv  acce])tabl(^  as  a 
guevt,  a  c(-)llea^me,  oi-  a  brcjther-indau'.  AVliether  all  mothers 
would  have  liked  liini  as  a  son,  is  anolher  ([ue-tion. 

It  is  a  fact  ])erlia[)s  kept  a  lilth'  too  much  iti  th-^  b:iek-;Tonnd, 
tha,t  mothers  hav(>  a  self  larger  Ihan  th.eir  materniu".  and  that 
tyhen  their  sons  have  Ijeeome   taller   than   thein-el\''\<.  and   are 


118  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL. 

gone  from  tlioin  to  college  or  into  tlie  world,  there  are  wide 
spaces  of  their  time  which  are  not  filled  with  praying  for  their 
boys,  reading  old  letters,  and  envying  yet  blessing  those  who 
are  attending  to  their  shirt-buttons.  Mrs.  Transome  was  cer- 
tainly not  one  of  those  bland,  adoring,  and  gcnth'  tearful  wo- 
men. After  sharing  the  common  dream  that  when  a  beautiful 
man-child  was  born  to  her,  her  cup  of  happiness  would  be  full, 
slie  had  travelled  through  long  years  a})art  from  that  child  to 
find  herself  at  last  in  the  }>i'esence  of  a  son  of  whom  she  was 
afraid,  who  Avas  utterly  unmanageable  by  her.  and  to  whose 
sentiments  in  any  given  cuse  she  possessed  no  key.  Y(^t  Harold 
was  a  kind  son  :  he  kissed  his  mother's  brow,  offered  her  liis 
arm,  let  her  choose  what  she  liked  for  the  house  and  garden, 
asked  her  whether  she  would  have  b'aNs  or  grays  lor  lu'r  new  car- 
riage, ami  was  bent  on  seeing  her  mulve  as  good  a  iigure  in  the 
neigldjorliood  ;i3  any  other  woman  of  ln'r  rank.  She  trendded 
luider  this  kindness  :  it  was  not  enough  to  satisfy  her;  still,  if 
it  sb.ould  ever  cease  and  give  })laee  to  something  else  —  she 
was  too  uncertain  about  Ha,rold"s  feelings  to  imagine  clearly 
wliat  that  something  would  be.  The-  finest  threads,  sucli  as  no 
CYC  S(H's.  if  bound  cunningly  about  tlie  sensitive  llcsli,  so  that 
the  movemfuit  to  lireak  tlu'm  wouLI  biing  torture,  may  make  a 
worse  bondage  than  any  fetters.  ]\lrs.  'I'ransome  JVlt  the  iatal 
tln-eads  aliont  lier.  and  tlie  bittei'uess  oi'  this  lielpless  bondage 
min,L:led  itself  with  tlie  new  el(\';an('ies  of  the  dinii'gand  di'aw- 
ing  i-()oms.  and  all  tlie  household  (dianges  whieh  Harold  IkuI 
ordered  to  l)i»  brought  about  with  ma.gieal  (juiehness.  Kotldng 
M-as  as  she  liad  once  '■xjiected  it  \\'oi!ld  be.  If  I[ar(dd  liad 
shown  th(^  least  ear(>  to  have  her  stay  in  the  roojn  with  him  — 
if  he  had  really  eari'd  bir  hei'  opinion  —  if  he  had  bicn  whaL 
she  had  dreamed  he  W(tnld  be  in  the  eyes  oT  those  peo[ile  who 
had  made  lier  worM  —  if  all  the  jiast  eonld  be  dissolved,  and 
havt!  no  solid  trace  ot  its(df  • — mighty  //>  that  ^voro  all  impos- 
sible—  slie  Would  lia\-e  tasted  s"ii:e  joy  ;  but  now  she  began  to 
look  liack  with  I'egret  to  the  days  \vlieu  she  sat  in  lonidiness 
among  the  old  dra])e!-y,  and  stiil  haiged  for  som.'tlii^tf,'  that 
might  ]ia])])en.  ^''et.  save  in  a  bitt'a-  little  speech,  or  in  a  deep 
sigh  lieard  by  no  one  besides  Denner,  she  kept  all  these  thing;* 


FELIX   HOLT.    THE   RADICAL.  119 

hidden  in  her  heart,  and  went  ont  in  tlie  autumn  sunshine  to 
overloolv  the  alterations  in  the  })k^asure-grounds  very  much  as 
a  happy  woman  might  liave  done.  One  day,  however,  wdien 
she  was  occupied  in  tliis  way,  an  occasion  came  on  which  slio 
chose  to  ex[)russ  indirectly  a  part  of  her  inward  care. 

She  was  standing  on  tlie  broad  gravel  in  the  afternoon ;  the 
long  sliadows  hiy  on  the  grass  ;  the  light  seemed  the  more 
glorious  because  of  the  re;ld('ited  and  golden  trees.  The  garden- 
ers were  busy  at  their  pleasant  work  ;  the  newly  turned  soil 
gave  out  an  agreeable  fragrance  ;  and  little  Harry  was  })laying 
with  Xinu'od  round  old  Mr.  Transonic,  who  sat  placidly  on  a 
low  garden-chair.  The  scene  would  have  made  a  charming 
picture  of  English  domestic  life,  and  the  handsome,  majestic, 
gray-haired  woman  (obviously  grandnuunma)  would  have  been 
especially  admired.  But  the  artist  would  have  felt  it  requisite 
to  turn  her  face  towards  her  husband  and  little  grandson,  and 
to  havti  given  her  an  elderly  amiability  of  expression  which 
would  liav(!  divided  remark  with  his  exquisite  rendering  cd'  her 
Indian  sIkiavI.  Mrs.  Trausome's  face  was  turned  the  other  way, 
andfortliis  reason  she  only  heard  an  a]U)r<)aehing  step,  and 
did  not  see  whose  it  was  ;  yet  it  startled  her  :  it  w;!S  not  quick 
enough  to  bi>  lier  son's  ste]».  and  besides,  Harold  was  away  at 
Dutheld.      it  was  Mr.  Jermyn's. 


CHAPTKP.   IX. 

A  woman,  naturally  Ikji'ii  to  fears.  — Kiy^n  John. 

Mt'ihiiiks 
Soinc  ntilinrn  shiti'w.  ri|ii>  in  foi-tnii('"s  ^vrmil), 
Is  (i.iriiiitr  t"\\arii~  iiu- :   aii'l  Jin    iiiwar^l  soul 
Witli  iiMthini;  ireniiilt-.  —  Kiiv/  lliflmrd  II. 

MArTiii'.w  .Tinmv.v  apin'oar-li:.!  Mrs.  Transome  taking  off  his 

hat  and  smilne^-.      Slu'  did  noi  s:iiile.  but  said  — 
''You  knew  Harold  ns'us  not  at  liome  ?  " 


120  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

"Yes;  1  canio  to  see  you,  to  know  if  you  had  any  wishes 
tliat  I  could  I'urthei',  sinco  1  liave  not  had  an  op])ortuDity  of 
consulting  you  since  he  came  home."' 

"Let  us  walk  towards  the  Kookery,  tlnm." 

They  turned  together,  Mr.  Jermyn  still  keeping  his  hat  off 
and  holding  it  hidiind  him;  the  air  was  so  s(d't  and  agreealde 
that  ]\lrs.  Transome  herself  had  nothing  but  a  large  veil  over 
lier  liead. 

They  walked  for  a  little  while  in  silence  till  they  were  out 
of  sight,  midor  tall  ti'ces,  and  treading  noiselessly  on  falling 
leaves.  A\'hat  Jermyn  was  really  most  anxious  aljout,  was  to 
learn  fi'om  Mrs.  Transonic  whether  anything  had  ti'anspired 
that  was  significant  of  Harold's  dis})Osition  towards  him,  which 
he  suspected  to  be  very  i'ar  from  friendly.  Jermyn  was  not 
naturally  flintydiearted :  at  five-and-twenty  he  liad  written 
verses,  and  had  got  himself  wet  tlirough  in  ord^r  not  to  dis- 
appoint a  dark-e^'cd  woman  whom  he  was  prrjud  to  believe 
in  love  with  him  ;  but  a  family  man  with  grown-u])  sons  and 
daughtei's.  a  man  with  a  professional  position  and  complicated 
aifairs  that  make  it  hard  to  ascertain  the  exact  relation  between 
property  and  lirdiilities,  necessarily  thinks  of  Jiimself  and  what 
may  be  imjtending. 

"  Hai'old  is  remai'kably  acute  and  cleveiy'  li(>  began  at  last, 
since  M  I'S.  Ti'ansonie  did  nrit  sjieak.  '•  Tf  he  gels  into  l'ar]i;i- 
ment,  I  ]:ave  no  d(jubt  he  Avill  distinuniish  himself.  l\(t  has  a 
(piiek  (  ve  (■(,!•  bii-iness  of  all  kinds." 

'• 'l'li;it  is  no  coml'oil  1o  me."'  said  'Mi'S.  'I'l'ansome.  To-day 
she  was  moi'e  eonseious  than  usual  of  tliat  bitterness  -whieh 
wiis  alv.-ays  in  he]'  niiiifl  in  dcrniyn's  presenee.  but  v\-hieli  was 
carefubv  siippre-s"d  ;  —  su  i;i)re/-;cd  because  slie  eonld  not  en- 
dii!'i'  tli;it,  llie  degrad;i1  ioii  ^\\r  iiiwai'dly  felt  shordd  ever  become 
visible  or  audible  in  ;ic1s  oi'  words  of  her  own  —  should  cycv  be 
rellected  in  anv  Avord  oi'  look  of  his.  bor  years  tliei'c  had  been  a 
dei'p  sileiici'  ;d)r)iit  t  lie  ]ia>t  between  them  :  on  hei'  side.  l)ecause 
sh"  reiiieiiibei'eil  ;  on  bis.  bec;iuse  be  ]norf  and  nioi'c  forgot. 

"T  ti'iisf-  he  is  noi  unldiid  to  yuii  in  nijy  way.  f  bianv  his 
0])ii;i<nis  ])ain  yoi;  ;  ]■'  t  '  iiust  you  find  liim  in  evei'vtliiiig  else 
dis];(jsed  t(^  be  a  LTOod  sou."' 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  121 

"Oh,  to  be  sure  —  good  as  men  are  flis]iosed  to  be  to  women, 
giving  them  cushions  and  carriages,  and  recommending  them 
to  enjoy  themselves,  and  then  expecting  them  to  be  contented 
under  contempt  and  neglect.  1  liave  no  power  over  him  — 
remember  tliat  —  none." 

Jermyn  turned  to  look  in  Mrs.  Transome's  face :  it  was  lon<^ 
since  lie  had  heard  her  speak  to  him  as  if  she  were  losing  her 
self-command. 

"Has  he  sliown  any  unpleasant  feeling  about  your  manage- 
ment of  tlie  affair';  ?  " 

"  J/y/  management  of  the  affairs  ! '"  Mrs.  Transonic  said,  with 
concentrated  rage,  flashing  a  tierce  look  at  Jermyn.  She 
check(^d  herself  :  she  felt  as  if  she  were  lighting  a  torch  to 
flare  oTi  her  own  jiast  folly  and  misery.  It  was  a  resolve 
Avhicli  had  become  a  habit,  that  siie  would  never  quarrel  with 
this  man  —  never  tell  him  what  she  saw  him  to  l)c.  She  liad 
kept  her  woinarrs  pride  ;ind  sensil)ility  intact:  tlu'ough  all  her 
lile  tlirri^  had  vibrated  the  maidtMi  need  to  have  her  hand 
kissed  and  he  tlie  object  of  chivalry.  And  SO  she  sank  into 
silence  again.   triMiibling. 

deniiyn  felt  riunoyeil  —  nothing  nu)r(>.  There  was  nothing 
in  his  niiiid  ((irresiionding  to  the  intricate  uK^shes  of  sensitive- 
ness ill  Mrs.  Ti-ansonie's.  l[(>w:!s  anvthin<_;-  but  stn]>id ;  yet 
he  always  liluuiLa-eil  when  he  wauied  to  ho  delicate  or  mag- 
naniiiinus  ;  he  eon^faiitly  soui;lii  to  sooihe  othi>rs  liy  praising 
liiinseir.  ]\lora]  \ulv:arii\-  clea\'ed  to  him  like  an  hereditary 
odor.      He  blundered    now. 

'-'  INh'  dear  ^Irs.  Transonic,"  he  said,  in  a  toiK^  of  bland  kind- 
ness. "  you  are  agitated —  you  a]ipear  angiy  with  me.  Yet  I 
thiid^.  if  yiHi  consiihu",  you  will  ^ee  that  you  have  nothing  to 
complain  of  in  me.  unless  you  will  eom])lain  of  the  inevitable 
course  of  nian.'s  life.  T  have  alwa\'s  met  your  wishes  l)orh  in 
ha]U)y  circnnistanees  and  in  iiidiapjjy  ones.  (  should  be  ready 
to  do  so  now.  if  it  were  possible." 

I'Aery  S(Mit(mee  was  as  pleasant  to  her  as  if  it  had  been  cut 
in  her  bared  arm.  Some  ntoii's  bindness  and  love-nial;in^'  are 
more  exas-oeratiiV-T.  more  humiliating  than  nthei--"  (haision: 
but  the   nitiabie  womar   \vh.:   lais  once  maile   !ie;;.tdt  secretlv 


122  FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL. 

dependent  on  a  man  who  is  beneath  her  in  feeling,  must  bear 
that  humiliation  for  fear  of  worse.  Coarse  kindness  is  at  least 
better  than  coarse  anger ;  and  in  all  private  quarrels  the  duller 
nature  is  triumphant  by  reason  of  its  dulness.  Mrs.  Transome 
knew  in  licr  inmost  soul  that  those  rL4atious  which  had  sealed 
her  lips  on  Jermyn's  conduct  in  business  matters,  had  been 
with  liim  a  ground  for  presuming  that  he  should  have  impu- 
nity in  any  lax  dealing  into  which  circumstances  had  led  him. 
She  knev.^  that  she  herself  had  endured  all  the  more  privation 
because  of  his  dishonest  scliishncss.  And  now,  Harold"s  long- 
deferred  heirship,  and  his  return  with  startlingly  unexpected 
penetration,  activitv.  and  assertion  of  mastery.  Inid  ]ilaced 
them  both  in  the  full  presence  of  a  difficulty  v\"liich  had  been 
prepared  l)y  the  years  of  vague  uncertainty  as  to  issues.  In 
this  position,  with  a  great  dread  hanging  over  her.  wiiich  Jer- 
myn  knew,  and  ought  to  have  felt  that  ho  had  caused  her.  she 
was  inclined  to  lash  him  with  indignation,  to  scorch  him  with 
the  words  that  were  just  tlie  fit  names  for  his  tlumgs  —  inclined 
all  the  more  when  he  spoke  with  an  indolent  blanduess.  ignor- 
ing all  that  was  truly  in  her  heart.  But  no  sooner  did  the 
words  '"You  liave  brought  it  on  me"'  rise  within  her  than  she 
heard  within  also  the  retort.  ''You  brought  it  on  ynurseli.'' 
Not  tor  all  the  world  beside  could  she  bear  to  hear  tli;it  i-etort 
uttered  from  without.  ^Vllat  did  she  do  ?  A\'ith  strnnire  se- 
quence tc;  all  that  rapid  tumult,  after  a  few  nionu/uts'  silence 
she  said,  in  a  gentle  and  almost  tremulous  voice  — 

"  Let  iiu-  take  your  ami."' 

He  gaxf!  it  immi-diat(dy,  putting  on  his  hat  and  wondering", 
F(u-  moi'e  l!ian  twenty  years  Mrs.  Transome  had  never  chosen 
to  take  his  arm. 

"I  hav(^  but  one  tlnng  to  ask  you.     IMake  me  a  promise." 

"  What  is  it  ?  " 

"That  you  will  never  quarrel  with  Tbai'old." 

"You  must  kuijw  that  it  is  my  wisli  not  to  quarrel  with 
him."' 

'' P)Ut  make  a  vow  —  lix  it  iu  your  mind  as  a  thinL-- not  lo 
bo  done.      Bear  anytliing  from  him  rather  than  quarrel  with 

UlUl." 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  123 

"A  man  can't  make  a  vow  not  to  quarrel,"  said  Jermyn,  wlio 
was  already  a  little  irritated  by  the  iniplicatiou  that  Karold 
might  be  disposed  to  use  him  roughly.  '-A  man's  temper  may 
get  the  better  of  him  at  any  moment.  1  am  not  prepared  to 
bear  anytliinrj.^'' 

"  Good  God  ! ''  said  Mrs.  Transome,  taking  her  hand  from 
his  arm,  "  is  it  possible  you  don't  feel  how  horrible  it  would 
be?" 

As  she  took  away  her  hand,  Jermyn  let  his  arm  fall,  put 
both  his  hands  in  his  pockets,  and  shrugging  his  shoulders 
said,  ^- 1  shall  use  him  as  he  uses  me." 

Jermyn  had  turned  round  his  savage  side,  and  the  blandness 
was  out  of  sight.  It  was  this  that  had  always  frightened  rvfi-s. 
Transome:  there  was  a  possibility  of  fierce  insolence  in  tliis 
man  who  was  to  pass  with  those  nearest  to  her  as  her  ind(4jted 
servant,  but  whose  brand  she  secretly  bore.  She  was  as  power- 
less with  him  as  siie  was  with  her  son. 

This  woman,  wlni  loved  rule,  dar 'd  not  speak  auothnr  word 
of  attempted  })ersuasi(ai.  They  were  both  sileul.  (akiug  the 
nearest  way  into  the  sunshine  again.  Tliere  was  a  ha'i'-fornied 
wish  in  both  tlieir  minds  —  even  in  the  nujther's  —  that  Harold 
Trarjsome  had  never  been  born. 

"\Ve  are  working  hard  for  the  election."  said  Jermyn.  I'e- 
eovering  himself,  as  they  rurricd  int(.)  the  suii^liine  again.  '•' ' 
think  we  shall  get  him  returned,  aral  in  that  case  hi^  \\\\\  be  in 
high  goodduimor.  Everytliing  will  be  iriore  }iro})iti<aiS  than 
you  are  apt  t;j  think.  You  musj-  prrsua  le  \-o;;rsclf,''  he  a.ihhHl. 
smiling  at  her,  ''that  it  is  better  foi'  a  naie  of  his  position  le, 
be  in  rarlianient  on  the  wrong  siile  rlian  not  r<>  be  in  at  all." 

''Xever,'"'  said  IMrs,  Transome.  '•  I  am  too  old  to  learn  to 
call  bitter  sweet  and  sweet  bitter,  I'.nt  what  I  may  think  or 
f'^td  is  of  no  consequence  now.  I  am  as  uiuiecessary  as  iv 
chimney  ornameut '' 

.Vnd  in  this  way  they  ])arteil   on   the   gravel,  in  tiiat  ])retty 
stHMie  where  tiiev  had   met.      Mrs.   Tiansome   siiivere>d   w.-   slie 
stood  alone  ;   all  around  her.  wlieii-  rticre  liad  oiice  b'"Mi  i  riidii 
ness   and  warmth,  there   were   wlute   ashes,  and   tb.e   su-:~1^';:e 
looked  dreary  as  it  fell  on  them. 


124  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

Mr.  Jennyn's  heaviest  reflections  in  riding  homeward  turned 
on  tlie  possibility  of  incidents  between  himself  and  iiarold 
Trausome  which  would  have  disagreeable  results,  requiring 
liim  to  raise  money,  and  perhaps  causing  scandal,  which  in  its 
way  niiylit  also  help  to  create  a  monetary  deficit.  A  man  of 
sixty,  with  a  wife  whose  Duffield  connections  were  of  the 
hi.'^hest  rrsjjoctability,  with  a  family  of  tall  daughters,  an  ex- 
pensive establishment,  and  a  large  professional  business,  owed 
a  great  deal  more  to  himself  as  the  mainstay  of  all  those  solidi- 
ties, than  tu  feelings  and  id(.;as  v/hich  Avcre  quite  unsubstan- 
tial. There  were  many  unfortunate  coincidences  which  placed 
Mr.  Jermyn  in  an  uncomfortable  position  just  now  ;  he  had 
not  been  mucli  to  blame,  he  considered  ;  if  it  had  not  been  for 
a  sudden  turn  of  affairs  no  one  would  have  complained.  He 
defied  any  man  to  say  tliat  he  had  intended  to  wrong  people; 
he  was  able  to  refund,  to  make  reprisals,  if  they  could  be  fairly 
denuuided.  Only  he  would  certainly  have  preferred  that  they 
should  not  be  demanded. 

A  German  ]ioet  was  intrusted  with  a  particularly  fine  sau- 
sage, which  Ik;  was  to  eonvi^y  to  the  donor's  friend  at  Paris. 
In  tlie  course  of  a  long  journey  he  smelt  the  sausage  ;  he  got 
luuigry.  aiul  (l<':^:rfd  t(i  tasfe  it;  he  pai-ed  a  leorsfl  oif,  tlifn 
anothf-r.  ami  another,  in  successive  mrunents  of  tejuptation, 
till  at  List  tiie  sausage  vas,  humimly  s|)eaking.  at  an  end.  The 
()nc]\c<:  had  not  been  })reme(Iitated.  The  ])oet  had  never  loved 
ine.'iiiness,  but  he  loveil  sausage  ;  and  the  result  was  undeniably 
.:.vkv,-,ird.' 

So  it  was  \',-ith  Alattliew  .Tei'myn.  Tie  was  far  from  liking 
thut  ugly  abst I'aetion  I'ascabtv.  but  lie  had  liked  other  things 
v.hich  liad  .-uir-ested  ni])bbiig.  lie  had  had  to  do  many  things 
in  hiw  and  iii  .'aily  lii-  wliich.  in  the  ;d)stract,  he  would  have 
condemned;  aud  inle.'d  lie  liad  ]ie\-er  been  t<;n]jte(l  ijy  them 
in  the  alistraet.  jlci'.s  in  fact,  was  1  he  inconvenience;  by  had 
siiinefl  for  the  :-si,ke  (,\'  [jartieular  eonerete  things,  and  particu- 
lir  f'oncr"t"  oc];  ^iiueiir-fs  v/erc  lii-;'-]y  to  fol]ov\-. 

Ihit  he  wa  a  i  ;.;i,  d'  r^  solutio!!.  ,\"lio.  having  marie  out  what 
■'.as  the  best  e(.urse  io  tal-ce  under  a  diliieult}'.  Went  straight  to 
his  wiiik.     I'he  cleelion  must  be  won  ;  tliat  would  j)ut  Harold 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  125 

in  good-humor,  give  liim  something  to  do,  and  leave  himself 
more  time  to  prepare  for  any  crisis. 

He  was  in  anything  but  low  spirits  that  evening.  It  was 
his  eldest  daughter's  birthday,  and  the  young  peophj  had  a 
dance.  ra})a  was  delightful  —  stood  uji  for  a  quadrille  and  a 
country-dance,  told  stories  at  supper,  and  made  humorous 
quotations  from  his  early  r(»adings  :  if  these  were  Latin,  he 
apologized,  and  translated  to  the  ladies  ;  so  that  a  deaf  lady- 
visitor  from  Uuttield  kept  her  truni[»et  up  continually,  lest 
she  should  lose  any  of  Mr.  Jcrniyn's  c(jriVersation,  and  wished 
that  her  niece  Maria  had  been  present,  who  was  young  and 
had  a  good  nuunory. 

Still  the  jiarty  was  smaller  than  usual,  for  some  families  in 
Treby  refused  to  visit  Jermyn,  now  tliat  he  was  concerned  for 
a  Itadical  candidate. 


CHArXEE,  X. 

lie  made  love  neither  with  ro.ses,  uor  with  apples,  nor  with  locks  of 
h.iir  —  'riiLiKurri'S. 

Onk  Sumlay  aftoriioon  Felix  TTolt  rapped  at  the  door  of 
i\rr.  Lyon's  house,  althougli  he  could  hoar  the  voice  of  the 
minister  proachiuL;'  in  the  chnpol.  lie  stoi  i!  v/ilh  :'.  book  inch'r 
his  arm,  noparfiii  ly  coulidout  that  thor*'  v.'as  some  one  in  tln^ 
house  t(;  o])!'!!  tlir  door  tor  him.  In  I'ad.  !-]sthcr  ne\'rr  went 
to  cha[)el  in  the  afternoon,  that  -'exercise"  made  her  }u';id 
ache. 

In  thesr>  S(>]»tember  week's  Felix  ha.d  got  rather  intimate 
with  Mi-.  Lyon.  Tliex-  shai'-d  tla'  >am"  political  symoathies  ; 
and  though,  to  Liliei'als  wlio  In^i  neiili-r  fiveiiold  luir  e.a'\-- 
hold  nor  leasehold,  the  share  i :  i  a  e(  liuit  v  elre;  ion  ei)i;-;-ri''l 
chiefly  of  that  iireserii,t  ivi'  aiee  --la'ait  o!'  idie  niaj  u'i;  \  Ix'i.'Wii 
as  "  looldng  on,""  tlierc  \v:i:.:  s;;,;  ::m:, i. a  hiiig  to  be  said  '  i  liie 
occasion,    if    not   to   be    done.      l\ii,a-s    tlie    nioar    ::.ie:;.tiul 


126  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

friendships  are  tiiose  in  which  tliere  is  nmeli  agreement,  much 

disputation,  and  yet  more  personal  likiiiy  ;  and  the  advent  of 
the  public-spirited,  contradictory,  yet  aiToctionate  Felix,  into 
Treby  life,  had  made  a  welcome  epoch  to  the  minister.  To 
talk  wirh  this  young  man,  who,  though  hopeful,  had  a  singu- 
larity which  some  miglit  at  once  have  pronounced  heresy,  bnt 
which  Ml.  Lyon  persisted  in  regarding  as  orthodo:-:}'  '•'in  the 
making,'"'  was  like  a  good  bite  to  strong  teeth  after  a  too 
jik'ntiful  ;dlo\vance  of  spoon  meat.  To  cultivate  his  society 
with  a  view  to  checking  his  erratic  tendencies  was  a  laudable 
})urpos(> ;  but  perhaps  if  Felix  had  been  rapidly  subdued  and 
reducfMl  to  conformity,  little  Mr.  Lyon  woidd  have  found  the 
conversation  inueh  llattm'. 

Esther  had  not  seen  so  much  of  their  new  ocquaintance  as 
her  father  had.  lint  she  had  begun  to  find  him  amusing,  and 
also  ratlier  irritating  to  her  woman's  love  of  conquest.  He 
always  opposed  and  criticised  her;  and  besides  that,  he  looked 
at  her  as  if  he  never  saw  ;i  single  detail  about  her  person  — 
quite  as  if  she  were  a  middle-aged  woman  in  a  cap.  She  did 
not  believe  that  he  Iiad  ever  aduiired  lier  hands,  or  her  Lmg 
neck,  or  her  gracfd'ul  movtMuents,  Avhich  had  made  nil  the 
girls  at  seh;)ol  call  her  ('alypso  (.  ..aibtless  from  their  famil- 
iarity with  '■  'r('l('iiiaqiie  ").  ]-\'lix  ought  propei'ly  to  have  been 
a  little  ii!  love  Avitli  lier  —  never  mentioning  it.  of  coui'se. 
because  that  \\'ould  have  been  disagreeable,  ;i!id  Ins  ])einL:  a 
]-egular  lov<'r  was  ont  <>l'  the  (pie.  tiou.  lint  it  was  (piite  elerir 
(hat,  insfi-ad  (.'f  feeling  any  disadvantage  cai  his  o^\■n  side,  he 
hehl  Jiinisi  If  t(j  be  imniea^surably  her  supeiaov  :  and,  what  ^'as 
worse,  Fstlier  !i;ii]  a  seej-et  conscieTisne.ss  that  he  was  her 
'^a[)erior.  She  was  all  tlie  more  \-exed  at  tla;  suspicion  tliat 
la'  th(,iighl  slightly  of  her;  ami  wi.^iied  in  h<'i'  vexation  that 
she  ('(juM  have  foun'l  more  fault  ^\■ith  him  —  that  she  had  not 
been  obli;_;c(l  to  aalinii'e  more  nnd  more  the  varying  ex])ressions 
of  his  ojien.  face  and  his  dejii'ionsly  gooddiumored  laugh, 
adways  loml  at  a  joke  a'_;'ainst  hiiiisi'lf.  ]!esides,  she  could  not 
liclp  liaving  her  euriosii y  i'ou,  .  d  by  the  unusual  combinations 
both  in  his  mind  and  in  his  outv.ai'd  position,  and  she  had 
surprised  lierself  as  w(dl  as  her  fathei-  one  day  by  suddenly 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   iiADICAL.  127 

starting  up  and  proposing  to  walk  with  liim  when  he  was 
going  to  }>ay  an  at'tornoon  visit  to  Mrs.  Holt,  to  try  and  soothe 
her  concerning  Felix.  "  What  a  mother  he  has  !  "  she  said  to 
herself  when  they  came  away  again  ;  "  but,  rude  and  queer  as 
he  is,  I  cannot  say  there  is  anything  vulgar  about  him.  Yet 
—  T  don't  know  —  if  I  saw  liim  by  the  side  of  a  liuished  gen- 
tlem;in."  I'stlier  wished  tluit  finished  gentleman  were  among 
her  aeijuaintances  :  he  would  certLunly  admire  her,  and  make 
her  aware  oT  Felix's  inferiority. 

On  this  ])articular  Sunday  afternoon,  when  she  heard  the 
knock  at  tht^  door,  she  was  stvated  in  the  kitchen  corner  be- 
tween tho  lire  and  the  window  reading '•'liene."  Certainly  in 
her  well-fitting  light-blue  di'css  —  she  almost  always  wore 
some  sliadi'  of  bhu'  —  with  her  delicate  sandalled  slipper 
stretched  towarils  the  fire,  hrv  little  gold  watch,  Avhich  had 
cost  her  ncarl}-  a  (piarter's  carniiigs,  visible  at  her  side,  her 
slender  iingrrs  playing  wilh  a  sliower  of  brown  curls,  and  a 
coronet  <jf  sinning-  plaits  at  ihe  summit  of  her  liea.d.  she  was 
a  remarkalili'  Cindi'rcila.  W'lim  tlie  raip  ea.me,  slu^  colored, 
and  was  gning  to  shut  lies'  iuick  and  jiut  it  out  of  the  way  on 
the  window-ledge  behiiu!  lier  :  'nut  slie  desistiMl  with  a  little 
toss,  laid  it  (i[)en  on  liie  table  beside  her,  and  walked  to  the 
outer  d(K)r,  which  (sneued  into  tlie  kitchen.  There  was  rather 
a  miscldevo'iis  gleam  in  h>'i'  face  :  the  rap  was  not  a  small 
one;  it  came  })r(>bal>]y  I'rcnu  a,  largt^  personage  witli  a  vigorous 
arm. 

•■(Jood  afternoon.  ^liss  T.you.''  said  Felix,  talcing  off  Ids 
clotli  i'a]>  :  he  resnlntely  decliueil  the  fxp(Misive  ugliness  of  a 
hat,  a,nd  in  a  p'dfied  caj)  a.nd  without  a  cravad.  inadt;  a  ligure 
at  which  his  niotlcv  ci'ii'd  wvyy  Sundav.  and  thought  (d'  with 
a  slow  shake  of  the  head  at  several  passages  in  the  minister's 
prayer. 

'•Dear  me.  it  is  you,  ]\Ir.  Holt  I  1  fear  you  will  have  m 
wait  some  ti'nie  Ixd'ore  you  can  see  my  father.  Tlu'  sennon  ;> 
not  ended  yet.  and  there  will  be  the  hymn  and  the  pi'ayer.  and 
jserha.ps  other  thinL;-s  to  detain  him." 

•■  Well,  will  you  let  me  sit  down  in  the  kitchen  ?  1  don't 
want  to  be  a  bore." 


128  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

"Oh,  no,"  said  Esther,  with  her  pretty  liglit  laugh,  "I 
always  give  you  credit  for  not  meaning  it.  Pray  come  in,  if 
you  don't  iuind  waiting.  1  was  sitting  in  tlie  kitchen  :  the 
kettle  is  singing  quite  prettily.  It  is  much  nicer  than  the 
parlcjr  -  -  not  half  so  ugly." 

"  There  1  agree  with  you." 

''Ilfjw  v(,'ry  extraordinary  !  Tint  if  you  prefer  the  kitchen 
and  don't  want  to  sit  with  me,  I  can  go  into  the  parlor." 

"  I  came  on  purpose  to  sit  with  you,"  said  Felix,  in  his 
blunt  way,  "  but  I  thought  it  likely  you  might  be  vexed  at 
seeing  me.  I  want(;d  to  talk  to  you,  but  I  've  got  nothing 
pheasant  to  say.  As  your  fatlu;r  would  have  it,  I  'm  not  given 
to  ])rojjhesy  smooth  things  —  to  i)rophesy  deceit." 

"I  und('rstand,"  said  Estln.'r,  sitting  down.  "Pray  be 
seat;Ml.  You  thought  I  had  no  afternoon  sermon,  so  you  came 
to  give  me  one." 

"  Yes,"  said  Felix,  seating  himself  sideways  in  a  chair  not 
far  off  her,  and  leaning  ovir  tluj  back  to  look  at  her  with  his 
large  clear  gray  eyes,  '■  and  my  text  is  something  you  said  the 
other  day.  You  said  you  didn't  mind  about  people  having 
right  opiiii(ms  so  tliat  tliey  had  good  taste.  Now  I  want  you 
to  see  wliat  sliallow  stuff  that  is." 

"  Oh,  I  don't  d((ul)t  it  if  you  say  so.  I  know  you  are  a 
person  of  riglit  o])inions." 

"  P)ut  by  opinions  you  mean  men's  thouglits  about  great 
subj(!cts,  and  by  t;ist(!  you  mean  their  tlioughts  about  small 
ones:  dress,  behavi(jr,  aniusi'ineiits,   oi'iiaments." 

"  AN'ell — ■  yf'S  —  or  ratlKU-,  their  sensiljilities  about  those 
things." 

'■'It  comes  to  tlie  same  thing;  thoughts,  opinions,  knowl- 
edgf,  a,re  only  a  sensibility  to  facts  and  ideas.  If  I  under- 
staTid  a  geometi-ical  pi-ol^lcm,  it  is  because;  I  have  a  sensibility 
1()  the  way  in  wliieh  lines  and  figures  ai'c;  rehiteil  to  each 
other;  and  1  want  you  to  see  thai  the  creature  who  has  the 
sensibilities  that  you  call  taste,  and  not  the  sensibilities  that 
\  on  call  (jpmions,  is  simj)lv  a  lower,  pettier  sort  of  being  —  an 
insect  that  notices  tiie  shaking  of  the  table,  but  never  noticea 
the  thunder." 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   EADJCAL.  129 

"  Very  well,  I  am  an  insect ;  yet  I  notice  that  you  are  thun- 
dering at  me." 

••  Si),  you  are  not  an  insert.  That  is  what  exasperates  me 
at  your  making  a  boast  of  liul'jness.  You  liave  enough  under- 
stain  ling  to  make  it  wicked  tiuit  you  sliould  add  one  more  to 
the  women  who  hinder  men's  lives  from  having  any  nobleness 
ui  them."' 

Esther  colored  deeply  :  she  r(\sented  this  speech,  yet  she  dis- 
uked  it  less  than  many  Felix  had  addressed  to  her. 

'■  What  is  my  horrible  guilt  ?  "  she  said,  rising  and  standing, 
as  slie  was  wont,  with  one  foot  on  the  fender,  and  looking  at 
the  lire.  If  it  had  been  any  one  but  Felix  Vvdio  was  near  luu-, 
it  might  have  occurred  to  her  that  this  attitude  sho\v(Ml  her  to 
advantage  ;  but  she  had  only  a  mortiiied  sense  that  he  was 
(piite  indifferent  to  what  otliei's  praisixl  her  for. 

••  Why  do  you  read  this  mawkish  stufi:'  on  a  Sunday,  for  ex- 
amine'.'"' lie  said,  snatching  uj)  '•  ivcnc,"'  and  running  his  eye 
()\Tr  tlif  [lagt's. 

"  \Vliy  don't  you  always  go  to  chapel,  Mr.  Holt,  and  read 
lb)\vi'"s  •  Living  Temple,"  and  join  the  Cl'.undi  ?  "' 

•'There's  just  the;  dil'ferenet!  l)et\veeii  us  —  1  know  why  I 
diin't  do  those  things.  L  disitiiietly  sof/  that  1  can  do  something 
bitter.  I  liave  other  ])rinciples,  and  sliould  sink  myself  ])y 
loiiig  what  I  don't  i-eeognize  as  the  best."' 

•■  1  undi'rstaiiil,"  said  ]']sthei-,  as  liglitly  as  slie  could,  to  con- 
ceal her  bitterness.  '■  1  am  a  lower  kind  of  being,  and  could 
not  so  t>asily  sink  my>ell'."' 

"  Not  by  entering  into  your  father's  ideas.  U'  a  woman 
"eally  belii'Ves  herself  to  be  a  1o\V(M'  kind  of  bidng.  slie  should 
]'\ri'  hei'seir  in  subjection:  she  should  b.(>  ruled  by  the  thoughts 
•  ■■  fiiu'  fatlier  (ir  husband.  If  i.ot.  hu  her  shoes'  hei'  iiowcr  o!' 
'■iKHising  something  lietter.  A'ou  must  know  thai  your  father's 
I'nuciples  arc>  greatiu'  and  wiu'ihier  than  wind:  guides  your  lite. 
\  on  liave  no  reason  but  idle  fancy  and  seliish  iiudination  for 
shirking  ids  teaching  and  giviicg  your  soul  uj)  to  tidfles." 

••  You  are  kind  enough  to  say  so  Ihit  I  am  not  aware  tliat 
1  have  ever  Confided  my  reasons  to  you.'' 

''  \\di\',  what  worth  calling  a  i-easoii  (^nild  make  any  mortal 
yoL    m.  9 


130  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL. 

hang  over  this  trash? —  idiotic  immorality  dressed  up  to  look 
fme,  with  a.  little  bit  of  doctrine  tacked  to  it,  like  a  hare's  foot 
on  a  dish,  to  make  believe  the  mess  is  not  cat's  flesh.  Look 
here  !  '  E:-;t-cc  ma  faiite,  si  je  trouve  partout  les  bornes,  si  ce 
qui  est  tlni  n'li  piour  moi  aucune  valeur  ? '  Yes,  sir,  distinctly 
yiuir  fault,  Ijecause  you  're  an  ass.  Your  dunce  who  can't  do 
his  sums  r;.l\vay.-;  has  a  taste  for  the  iniinite.  Sir,  do  you  know 
what  :i  rhumbuid  is  ?  l)h  no,  I  don't  value  these  things  with 
limits,  '(.'(^pendant,  i'ainie  la  monotonie  des  sentimens  de  la 
vie,  et  si  j'avr.is  encore  la  folic  de  crcure  an  bonheur  — '  " 

"Oil,  praj-,  Mr.  Holt,  don't  go  on  reading  with  that  dreadful 
accent  ;  it  sets  one'.s  teeth  on  edge."  Esther,  smarting  hel}> 
lessly  uniUir  the  jirevious  lashes,  v/as  relieved  by  this  diversion 
01  criticism. 

'•'There  it  is  I  "  said  l^dix,  tlirowing  the  book  on  the  table, 
uid  getting  ui>  to  walk  about.  "You  are  only  ha[)py  when 
you  can  spy  a  tag  or  a  tassel  loose;  to  turn  the  talk,  and  get  rid 
of  any  judgmeiii  iliat  must  carry  grave  action  after  it." 

" {  think  I  have  Ijorn.e  a  great  deal  of  talk  without  turning  it." 

'■.\ot  enougli,  .Miss  Lyon  —  VKjt  all  that  I  came  to  say.  i 
want  you  to  change.  Of  course  I  am  a  brnte  to  say  so.  I  ought 
to  say  you  are  ])erfect.  Another  man  would,  perlia]).'?.  J>ut  1 
say  T  w;uit  you  to  ciKinge." 

'•JIow  am  I  to  obbge  you?     I'v  joining  the  C'liurcli?" 

"  >>'o  ;  l-'Ut  l)y  as]-;ing  yourself  whether  life  is  not  as  solemn 
,'1  thing  as  your  father  takes  it  to  be — in  which  you  may  be 
'  i'jir  a  l'le--;,:iig  or  a  (airsc  to  many.  You  know  you  liavo 
aevi  r  done  t::;!t.  You  don't  care  to  l)e  V)r'tt(u-  tlian  a  l)ird  ti'im- 
a.iag  ils  ['■;  Ire'T-s.  and  jiccking  about  after  what  pleases  it. 
^'on  :o-e  ili- rv.ee-iiP'd  ^\"^^ll  the  world  b^'causi^  }'0U  can't  get 
)U,  t;  M;e  r-'i!;::!l  iliinv.'s  ti;:it  suit  3'on;'  pleasure,  not  becaust^  it  's 
a  vroiM  wins'  ■  i'  ^iheis  oi'  men  aui!  women  are  groumi  by  wi'ong 
ami  nnsery.  a:!;!  Isiute'd  v.'itli  jKiHution." 

]']sthe;-  !elt  ];.  i'  ii-  art  swellin:.;-  ^\ath  mingled  indignation 
i.'t  this  l!bert\'.  wouaif'd  jiride,  at  this  depreciation,  and  acute 
eonseiousness  llist  she  eoidd  not  conti'adict  what  Felix  said, 
lb'  was  outi'a'4-"ou-.ly  ili-bi'ei]  :  lait  slie  bdt  that  she  should  be 
lowering  hersidl  by  telliag  liim  s(ij  and  manifesting  her  anger; 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  131 

in  that  way  she  would  be  confirming  his  accusation  of  a  little- 
ness that  shrank  from  severe  truth  ;  and,  besides,  througli  all 
her  mortification  there  pierced  a  sense  tliat  this  exasperation 
of  Felix  against  her  was  more  complimentary  than  anything 
in  Ins  previous  behavior.  She  liad  self-command  enough  to 
speak  with  her  usual  silvery  voice. 

'•  Pray  go  on,  Mr.  Holt.  Believe  yourself  of  these  burning 
truths.  I  am  sure  they  must  be  troublesome  to  carry  un- 
uttered."' 

••  Yes,  they  are,''  said  Felix,  pausing,  and  standing  not  far 
off  lier.  '•  I  can't  bear  to  see  you  going  tlic  way  of  the  foolish 
women  who  spoil  men's  lives.  Men  can't  help  loving  them, 
and  so  they  make  themselves  slaves  to  the  petty  desires  of 
petty  creatures.  That  's  the  Avay  those  who  might  do  better 
spend  tludr  lives  for  nought  —  get  cheeked  in  every  great 
eiTort  —  toil  witli  brain  and  limb  for  things  that  have  no  more 
to  do  witli  a  manlv  life  than,  tarts  and  conlectionery.  That  "s 
what  makes  wfjinen  a.  curse  ;  all  life  is  stunteil  to  suit  their 
littleness.  That's  why  I'll  n(»ver  love,  if  1  can  help  it;  and 
if  r  love.  I'll  hear  it.  and  never  marry." 

'I'he  fuuudt  of  feeling  in  I'^stlier's  mind  —  mortification, 
anger,  the  sense  of  a  tenable  ])ower  over  her  that  Felix  seemed 
to  have  as  his  angry  words  vibrated  through  her  —  was  gidting 
ahnost  too  much  for  her  self-control.  She  felt  her  lips  (puver- 
ing  ;  but  lier  ])rid(\  which  feared  nothing  so  much  as  the  be- 
trayal of  her  emotion,  helped  her  to  a.  desperate  effort.  She 
pi'.ii'hed  her  own  hand  hard  to  overcome  lier  tremor,  and  said, 
in  a  tone  of  scorn  — 

'■  1  i)ught  to  be  very  niueh  obliged  to  you  for  giving  me 
your  contidence   so   freely." 

"All!  now  you  are  offended  with  mc.  and  disgustful  witli 
me.  T  expected  it  wtiuM  be  so.  A  woman  doesn't  likt;  a 
nuui  who  tells   hcv   tlie  truth." 

"  I  thiidv  you  boast  a  liltle  too  much  of  your  trutli-tt'lling, 
.Mr.  Holt,"  said  Kstlier.  Ilashin',:  out  at  last.  "That  virtue  is 
apt  to  be  easy  to  p(>o])ie  v.-lien  tliey  only  woutkI  others  and 
not  themselves.  Telling  the  truth  often  means  no  more  than 
taking  a  liberty." 


132  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"Yes,  I  suppose  I  should  have  been  taking  a  liberty  if  I 
had  tried  to  drag  you  back  by  the  skirt  when  1  saw  you  run- 
ning into  a  })it.'' 

"  You  should  really  found  a  sect.  Preaching  is  your  voca- 
tion. It  is  a  pity  you  should  ever  have  an  audience  of  only 
one." 

"  I  see  ;  I  have  made  a  fool  of  myself.  I  tliought  you  had 
a  more  generous  mind  —  that  you  might  be  kindled  to  a  better 
ambition.  IJut  I've  set  your  vanity  aflame  —  nothing  else. 
I  'm  going.     Good-by." 

"  Good-by,"  said  Esther,  not  looking  at  him.  He  did  not 
open  the  door  immediately.  He  seemed  to  be  adjusting  his 
cap  and  pulling  it  down.  Esther  longed  to  b(^  able  to  tlirow 
a  lasso  round  him  and  romped  him  to  stay,  tliat  she  miglit  say 
what  she  elios(^  to  him  ;  her  very  anger  made  this  departui'e 
irritating,  es])ecially  as  he  had  the  last  word,  and  that  a  veiy 
l)itter  one.  Jhit  soon  tlie  latch  was  lifted  and  the  door  closed 
behind  him.  She  ran  up  to  her  bedi'oom  and  burst  into  tears. 
Poor  maiden  !  There  v/as  ;i  sti'ange  contradiction  of  impidses 
in  her  mind  in  those  lirst  moments.  She  could  not  bear  that 
Felix  should  ]iot  resjiect  liei'.  yet  she  could  not  In'ar  tliat  lie 
should  see  her  bend  Ixd'ore  his  denunciation.  Hlic  I'cvolted 
against  liis  assum])ti<)n  of  su])eriority,  yet  sln^  felt  licrsclf  in 
a  new  kind  <>!'  sul)j(,Md,ion  to  him.  He  was  ill-l)red,  he  was 
rude,  lie  had  tak<'ii  an  unwari'antablc  liberty  ;  yet  iiis  indig- 
nant words  wci'e  a  ti'iltutc  to  hei'  :  lie  thought  slie  was  worth 
]iiore  ]»a.ins  tlian  tlic  v/omen  of  whom  he  took  no  notice.  It 
•,vas  exci-ssivcly  impertinent  in  Inm  lo  tell  Iniv  of  his  resolving 
iint  to  love  —  not  to  marry — as  if  she  cai'ed  about  that;  as 
if  he  thought  liimself  likely  to  ins])ii'e  an  alfe(d,ion  that  would 
incline  a)iy  woman  to  mai'ry  hiin  after  sucli  eccentric  steps  as 
he  had  taken.  Had  luM'ver  foi'  a  mom(mt  imagined  1,hat  she 
had  thonglit  oi'  him  in  the  light  of  a,  man  who  wcndd  make 
love  to  hei' '.'...  T.ut  did  he  love  her  one  little  bit,  and  was 
that  the  reas(ju  why  he  wanted  her  to  change  ?  Esther  felt 
less  angry  at  that  loian  of  freedom;  though  she  was  quite 
sure  that  she  did  not  love  him,  and  that  slie  ccndd  nev(;r  love 
ae.y  one  who  was  so  niaeli  of  a  pedagogue  unci  a  master,  to  say 


FELIX   iiULT,    THE    liADICAL.  133 

nothing  of  his  oddities.  But  hf  wanted  her  to  change.  For 
the  first  time  in  her  life  Esther  ielt  herself  serionsly  shaken 
in  her  selt'-eontentnient.  Slic  knew  there  was  a  mind  to  which 
she  ap})eared  trivial,  nari'ow,  seltish.  Every  word  Felix  had 
said  to  her  seemed  to  have  burned  itself  into  her  mcnnory. 
She  felt  as  if  she  should  foreverniore  be  liaunted  by  self- 
criticism,  and  never  do  anytlung  to  satisfy  those  fancies  ou 
which  she  had  simply  pi({ued  herself  before  without  being 
dogged  by  inward  qut'stions.  Iter  father's  desire  for  her  con- 
vtu'sion  had  never  moved  her  ;  she  saw  that  he  adored  her  all 
tiu'  while,  and  he  never  checked  her  unregcnerate  acts  as  if 
tiiey  dt.'graded  her  on  earth,  but  only  mourned  over  them  as 
unlitting  hf^r  for  h(\aven.  Unfitness  for  heaven  (spoken  of 
as  "  .lerusaleiu  "  and  '-glory'"),  the  prayers  of  a  good  little 
father,  whosi'  thoughts  and  motives  seemed  to  her  like  the 
••  Life  ot  l)r.  ]  )o(l(h  ulgc."  w]ii(;li  she  was  content  to  leave  un- 
real!, ilid  not  atta(d<  her  sdf-resjx'ct  ami  seli'-s;itisfaction.  Ihit 
now  she  had  been  stun;,  —  slung  even  into  a  neu"  ('(.uiscious- 
ness  concrrnini,^  lie!'  latbcr.  Was  it  true  that  his  life  was  so 
nnu-h  woitliier  than  hiu  ...vu  '.  Mie  could  not  changt^  I'or  any- 
thing I'l'bx  said.  bn1  >\\r  toio  licrM'li'  he  was  nnstaken  if  he 
supposed    lu'r    mcapabli'    of   generous   thoughts. 

Siie  hr'ard  her  iatlicr  coining  into  the  house.  She  dried 
lier  tears,  tried  to  recover  herself  hurriedly,  and  went  down 
to  Inm. 

•■  \'ou  want  y(>ur  tea,  father;  how  your  I'orehead  Ijurns  !  " 
she  said  gently,  kissing  his  brow,  and  then  putting  her  cool 
hand  on   it. 

Mr.  L}'on  IVlt  a  litflt^  sur]»rise;  such  spontanetius  tendm-- 
.:i(  ss  was  not  cpiiti'  common  with  hci' ;  it  reminded  him  of  hei 
laollier. 

■•  My  sweet  child."'  he  said  grat -fully,  tlii idling  with  wonder 
of  the  treasures  still  lid't  in  our  fallen  nature. 


1^4  FELiX   ilULT,    THE   KADlCAlu 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Truth  is  the  precious  harvest  of  the  earth. 
But  once,  when  harvest  waved  upon  a  land, 
Tlie  noisome  caukerworm  and  caterpillar, 
Locusts,  and  all  the  swarming  foul-boru  brooda, 
Fastened  upon  it  with  swift,  greedy  jaws. 
And  turned  the  iiarvest  into  pestilence, 
Until  meu  said,  What  profits  it  to  sow  ? 

Fp:lix  was  going  to  Sproxton  that  Sunday  afternoon.  He 
always  enjoyed  his  walk  to  that  outlying  hamlet ;  it  took  him 
(by  a  short  cut)  through  a  corner  of  Sir  Maximus  i)ebarry"s 
park  ;  then  across  a  piece  of  common;  broken  here  and  there 
into  red  ridges  below  dark  masses  of  furze  ;  and  for  the  rest 
of  the  way  alongside  the  canal,  where  the  Sunday  peaceful- 
ness  that  seemed  to  rest  on  the  bordering  meadows  and  pas- 
tures was  hardly  broken  if  a  horse  pulled  into  sight  along  the 
towing-path,  and  a  boat,  with  a  little  curl  of  blue  smoke  issu- 
ing from  its  tin  chimney,  came  slowly  gliding  behind.  Felix 
retained  something  of  his  boyish  impression  that  the  days  in 
a  canal-boat  were  all  like  Sundays  ;  but  the  hurse,  if  it  had 
been  })ut  to  him.  would  iprobalily  havc'  prebu'rcd  a  more  Judaic 
or  Scotch  v\'j:i>r  with  i'e,q'ard  t(*  canal  boats,  or  at  least  that  the 
Sunday  towing  shuuld  be  done  by  ass(^s.  as  a.  loAver  order. 

Tills  canal  Avas  only  a  brancli  of  the  grand  trunk.  ;ind  ended 
among  the  coal-pits,  where  1^^'lix.  ci-ossing  a  network  of  black 
ti'am-ro;uls,  soon  came  to  his  destination  —  that  pnlilic  insti- 
tute of  Sjiroxtoii.  known  to  lis  frtMuionters  chiefly  as  Chubb's, 
but  less  familiarly  as  the  Sugar  Loaf,  or  the  Xew  Pits  ;  this 
last  being  the  name  for  the  mort^  modern  and  livtdy  nucdeus 
of  the  Sproxton  hamlet,  'fhe  other  nucleus,  known  as  the 
Old  I'its,  a''.so  su]»iioi'tt'd  its  ■•  jinblic."'  but  it  had  something  of 
the  forlorn  air  of  ;ni  ;d;andoned  ca])itai  :  and  the  company 
at  the  IMue  Cow  was  of  an  inferior  kind  —  eciual.  of  course, 
in  the  fundamental  ;ittril)utes  of  humanity,  such  as  desire  for 
beeij  but  not  equal  m  ability  to  pay  for  it. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  185 

Wlien  Felix  arrived,  the  great  Cliubb  was  standing  at  the 
door.  ]\lr.  Cliuhb  was  a  remarkable  puWican .;  none  of  your 
stoek  ]->onifaces,  red,  bloated,  jolly,  and  joking.  He  was  thin 
and  sallow,  and  was  never,  as  his  constant  guests  observed, 
seen  to  be  the  worse  (or  the  better)  for  li(|Uor  ;  indeed,  as 
among  soldiers  an  eminent  general  was  held  to  have  r.  eliarmed 
life,  Chul)b  was  lield  by  tlu^  ni'Mubei's  of  the  Benelit  Club  to 
have  a  eharmed  sol)riety,  a  vigilance  over  his  own  interest 
that  resisted  all  narcotics,  llis  very  dreams,  as  stated  by 
himself,  had  a  method  in  thcni  beyond  the  waking  thoughts 
of  other  men..  Pharaoh's  dream,  he  observed,  was  nothing  to 
them  ;  and,  as  lying  so  mueli  out  of  ordinary  experience,  they 
were  held  particulai'ly  suitable  for  narration  on  Sunday  even- 
ings, when  the  listfuing  colliers,  well  washed  and  in  their 
best  coats,  shook  tlndi'  heads  with  a  sense  of  th;it  peculiar 
cdiiii^ition  Avhicli  belongs  to  the  incx})licable.  Mr.  Chubb's 
reasons  for  becoming  lumllo.rd  of  the  Sugar  Loaf  were  founded 
OIL  tlic  si'Vurcst  calculation.  Having  an  actiN'c  mind,  and  being 
averse  to  l)odily  labor,  he  had  tl!0]'(.)ughly  considered  what 
calling  would  yield  him  the  best  livelihood  with  the  least 
possible-  exertion.,  and  in  that  sort  of  line  he  had  seen  that  a 
'•'public"'  ajuon-'st  miners  who  earned  higli  wa';-es  was  a  line 
iipfiiiuL^  lie  !i,ti|  ])ros[)ere(l  aeeordiiig  to  the  merits  of  sueh 
judieiems  calculation,  was  already  a  foi-ty-shilling  frcidioLler. 
and  was  conseioe.s  of  a  vote  lor  the  county.  ITe  was  not  one 
I'f  those  niean-^uiirited  men  who  found  tlie  franchise  r'mlia.r- 
rassing.  an.l  w.iulil  ralliei'  have  bc.Mi  wiihuut  \\- ■_  ],^'  v>'-j:-M\]od 
his  vote  as  part  of  his  mvestmeiit.  an.'  nvant  to  nnd^e  tlie 
b"st  of  it.  lie  cailh'il  him,-;ell'  a  strai^'lii  f'orwai'd  man.  and  at 
>u;table  monieni:s  exiire.sse.i  Ids  views  friH  ly  ;  in  fact,  lie  was 
kuf'wn  to  have  one  lundaiuental  ilivision  for  all  o}iinion  — 
••  niy   idr(^  "  and    ••  huud)U--." 

^^  hen  Felix  apin'oaidied.  Mr.  ('iiubb  was  standing,  as  usual. 
w;th  his  haue^s  nerv(m,->i\'  ])us\'  m  liis  pocket.<.  ld<  eves  ..^dan- 
i-;u'4-  rou.uil  wiifi  a  di'tectiv-  fX'a'es.^ion  at  the  bla(dv  b' :i';se;:pe. 
aTid  his  lipless  mouth  comi)T('S.>i',!  ye\  in  constant  nio\'enient. 
On  a  su]ierficial  view  it  nd',;;'  be  sui)po<i'd  ihat  so  ■■ager- 
seeiuing  a  jiersonality  was  unsroted  to  the  puldican's  business; 


1?;6         FELIX  HOLT,  THE  RADICAL. 

but  in  fact  it  was  a  great  provocative  to  drinking.     Like  the 

shrill  biting  talk  oiVa  vixenish  wife,  it  would  have  compelled 
you  to  "  take  a  little  something "  by  Avay  of  dulling  your 
sensibility. 

Hitherto,  notwithstanding  Felix  drank  so  little  ale,  the 
[>ublican  had  treated  him  with  high  civility.  The  coming 
election  v/as  a  great  opportunity  for  a})plying  his  political 
'•  idee,"  which  was,  that  society  existed  for  the  sake  of  the 
individual,  and  that  the  name  of  that  individual  was  Chubb. 
Now,  from  a  conjunction  of  absurd  circuui stances  inconsistent 
with  that  idea,  it  happened  that  S};ruxi(jn  had  been  hitherto 
somewhat  neglected  in  the  (uuivuss.  Tlie  head  member  of 
the  Company  that  worked  the  niinrs  v/as  iMr.  Peter  Garstin, 
and  the  same  company  received  the  runt  iur  the  Hugar  Loaf. 
Hence,  as  the  })erson  who  had  the  most  power  of  annoying 
^Iv.  Chubb,  and  being  of  detriment  to  liim,  Mr.  Garstin  was 
naturally  the  candidate  for  whom  he  had  reserved  his  vote. 
V>nt  where  there  is  this  intention  of  ultimately  gratifying  a 
gentlenuxn  by  voting  for  him  in  an  open  British  manner  on 
the  day  of  the  poll,  a  man,  whether  Publican  or  Pharisee  (Mr. 
Chubb  used  this  generic  classification  of  mankind  as  one  that 
was  sanctioned  })y  Scriptui'c),  is  all  the  freer  in  his  relations 
with  those  deluded  pei'sons  who  take  him  for  what  he  is  not, 
and  im.agine  him  to  be  a  waverer.  Ymt  for  some  time  oppor- 
tunity had  seemed  b;irren.  Tliere  v\'ere  but  three  dubious 
votes  ])(!sides  ]\Ir.  Chubb's  in  the  small  district  of  which  the 
'Migai'  Loaf  conld  be  ix'garded  as  lln^  centre  of  intelligence 
and  ins])irati()n  :  the  colliers,  of  course,  bad  no  votes,  and  did 
not  nr-ed  ])olitieal  convevsion;  conse(|uently.  tlie  inteicsts  of 
S[)i-oxton  liad  only  beini  tacitly  clierisheii  in  tlie  breasts  of 
candidates.  PmiI:  ever  since  it  liad  l)een  known  that  a  Kadical 
candidat(!  Avas  in  tlie  Held,  that  in  coiise(|uence  of  this  Mr, 
Debarry  had  coale'sced  willi  ^Ir.  Gai'slin.  a,nd  tha.t  t'dr  Ja.nies 
Clement,  the  ]ioor  baronei,  liad  reiii'cd.  Mr.  ('Inibliliad  been 
o(;cupied  wilh  l!ienios{  ingenious  mental  coniljina.tions  iuorder 
to  a,s('ertain  wlial  possibilities  of  jii^ofit  to  the  Sugar  l^oaf  might 
lie  in  this  altered  state  o!'  lie  canvs-s. 

He  had  a  cousin  in  ano!:li<>-  efiiii]t\.  also  a  pnl)lica,n,  but  in 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   KADICAL.  137 

a  largei-  way,  and  resident  in  a  borough,  and  from  liim  Mr. 
Chubb  had  gathered  more  detailed  political  information  than 
he  could  liud  in  the  Loauishire  newspapers.  He  v/as  now 
enlightened  enough  to  know  that  there  was  a  way  of  using 
voteless  miners  and  navvies  at  Xominations  and  Elections. 
He  approved  of  that;  it  entered  into  liis  political  "idee;" 
and  indeed  he  would  have  been  for  extending  the  franchise  to 
this  class  —  at  least  in  Sproxton.  If  any  one  had  observed 
that  you  must  draw  a  line  somewhere,  IMr.  Chubb  v*'ould  have 
concurred  at  once,  and  would  have  given  permission  to  draw 
it  at  a  radius  of  two  miles  from  his  own  taj). 

From  the  lirst  Sunday  evening  when  Felix  had  appeared  at 
the  Sugar  Loaf,  IMr.  Chubb  had  made  up  his  nund  that  this 
'cute  man  who  kept  liimself  sober  v/as  an  electioneering  agent. 
That  he  was  hired  for  some  purpose  or  other  there  was  not  a 
doubt;  a  man  didn't  come  and  drink  nothing  without  a  good 
reason.  In  proportion  as  Felix's  purpose  was  not  obvious  to 
Chubb's  mind,  it  must  l)e  dee]) ;  and  this  growing  conviction 
had  even  leil  the  publican  on  the  last  Sunday  evening  privately 
to  urge  iiis  mysterious  visitor  to  let  a  little  ale  be  chalked  up 
for  him  -  it  was  of  no  consefpience.  h'elix  knew  his  man,  and 
hail  taken  cart!  not  to  l.ictray  too  soon  that  his  real  object  was 
so  to  win  [lie  ear  of  the  best  fellows  altout  liim  as  to  induce 
them  to  nicrt  him  on  a  Saturday  evening  in  the  room  where 
Mr.  Lyon,  or  one  of  his  deacons,  habitually  held  his  Wednes- 
day })reaehings.  Only  Y\'omen  and  children,  three  old  men.  a 
j'jurni'vniau  tailor,  autl  ;i  (•onsum|)tivi'  youth,  attended  those 
preachings;  not  a  Ci/ilicr  h;id  been  won  i'rom  the  strong-  a](; 
of  the  Sug;ir  Loaf,  not  even  ;i  navv\'  iVoai  t]n>  luutldier  drink 
of  the  fihie  Cow.  Felix  w:is  sanguine  ;  he  saw  sonu'  ])le;is:;:!i 
faces  among  the  miners  Avhen  tlic\'  were  washed  on  Sumhiys  ; 
they  might  be  taught  to  spe;id  their  wages  l)etter.  At  i\\l 
eviuits,  he  \v;is  going  to  try  :  lie  liad  great  eo!iii;lenee  in  his 
powfrs  of  appeal,  iiud  it  was  i[uiti'  true  that  he  r.ever  spoke 
u'lti'out  arresting  attentat!,  Thi  re  \vas  nothing  lieth'r  iluin  a 
(laiae  school  ni  the  iKinih't.  :  !ie  tlionght  that  if  lie  (>e'nl;i  niove 
the'  fathers,  whose  blacivi'ned  wa/ek-day  })ersor)S  ana  flaa;iel 
cans,  (vrnamented  with  tallov.'  eaudles  l)v   Wcty  -)i    ahame,  were 


138  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

a  badge  of  liard  labor  ±or  which  he  had  a  more  sympathetic 
fibre  than  for  any  ribbon  in  the  button-liole  —  if  he  couhi 
move  tliese  men  to  save  something  from  their  drink  and  pay  a 
schoolmaster  for  their  boys,  a  greater  service  would  be  done 
them  than  if  ]\Ir.  Garstin  and  his  company  were  persuaded  to 
establish  a  school. 

'•I'll  lay  hold  of  them  by  their  fatherhood,""  said  Pelix; 
•I'll  take  one  of  their  little  fellows  and  set  him  in  the  midst. 
Till  the}'  can  show  there  "s  something  they  love  better  than 
swilling  then^selvcs  with  ale,  extension  of  the  stiffrage  can 
never  mean  anything  for  then:  but  extension  of  boozing.  One 
must  begin  somewhere  :  I  '11  begin  at  what  is  under  my  nose. 
I  '11  begin  at  Sproxton.  That  "s  what  a  man  would  do  if  he 
had  a  red-hot  superstition.  Can"t  one  work  for  sober  truth  as 
hard  as  for  megrims  ? "' 

Felix  Holt  had  his  illusions,  like  other  young  men,  though 
they  were  not  of  a  fashionable  sort  ;  rei'ening  neither  to  the 
impression  his  costume  and  horsemanship  might  make  on  be- 
holders, nor  to  the  ease  with  which  he  v.'ould  pay  the  Jtnvs 
when  he  gave  a  loose  to  his  talents  and  ajijilied  himsell'  to 
work.  lie  had  lixed  his  clioice  on  a  certain  ]Mike  lirindlc  mot 
that  Brindle  was  his  real  n.auie  —  each  collier  had  his  sohri'/vet) 
as  the  man  Avliom  he  would  induce  to  walk  ]iart  of  iht-  way 
home  with  him  this  very  evening,  and  get  to  iuviti*  some  of 
his  comrades  for  the  3iext  Saturd;iy.  j'.ihndlc  was  one  of  the 
h  -ad  miners;  he  had  a  brii;ht  gor;(l-n;:tureil  face,  ^nd  had 
iven  es])(^cial  attention  to  certain  ].eriurniances  with  a  mag- 
iit  wliieh  l-"(dix  caii'ied  in  his  I'nclo't. 

Mr.  Chubb,  who  had  also  his  illusions,  smiled  graciously  as 
tlie  eni-UKitic  customer  came  u})  to  the  door-step. 

"Wh'll,  sir,  Sunday  seems  to  be  your  day:  I  begin  to  look 
for  you  on  a  Sunday  now." 

"Yes.  I  'm  a  working  man;  Sunday  is  my  holiday,"  said 
I'elix,  jiausing  at  the  door  since  the  host  seemed  to  expect 
this. 

•'•'Ah,  sir,  there's  many  ways  of  working.  I  look  at  it 
you're  one  of  those  as  work  with  your  brains.  That's  whsi 
I  do  myself." 


FELIX    HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  139 

"  One  may  do  a  good  deal  of  that  and  work  with  one's  hands 
too." 

'*  Ah,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Chubb,  with  a  pertain  bitterness  in  his 
smile,  ''I've  that  sort  of  ho;ul  that  I've  oftnn  wished  I  wa^" 
stu})ider.  I  use  things  up,  sir;  I  sne  into  things  a  dt.'al  too 
quick.  I  eat  my  dinner,  as  you  may  say.  at  breakfast-time. 
That's  why  I  hardly  ever  smoke  a  pipe.  Xo  sooner  do  I  stick 
a  pipe  in  my  mouth  than  I  })uff  and  puff  till  it's  gone  before 
other  folks'  are  well  lit ;  and  tli;'n.  where  am  i  '.'  I  might  as 
well  liave  let  it  alone.  In  this  world  it 's  better  not  to  be  too 
quick.     Uut  you  know  what  it  is,  sir."' 

"~Sot  1,"  said  Felix.  rul)bing  the  back  of  his  head,  witli  a 
grimace.  "■  I  generally  feel  myself  rather  a  blockhead.  Tiie 
world  "s  a  largish  place,  and  I  have  n't  turued  everything  inside 
out  yet." 

"  Ah.  that  's  your  deepness.  I  think  we  understand  one 
andtJier.  And  about  tins  here  election.  \  lay  two  to  one  we 
should  au'ree  if  \vc  was  to  come  to  talk  about  it."' 

*•  Ah  !  '"  said  l-'(dix,  with  an  air  of  caution. 

••V'un're,  uont.^  ol'  a  'i'ory,  eh.  sir?  Vou  won"t  go  to  vote 
for  i)eli:iriy  ?  That  was  wliat  I  said  at  the  very  tirst  g!j-olf. 
Sa3's  1,  he  's  no  'i'ory.      1  think  i  was  right,  sir  —  eh  ?" 

"Certainly;    I  "m  no  Tory." 

"  Xo.  no,  you  don"t  calcli  me  wrong  in  a  hurry.  AWll. 
between  you  and  me,  I  care  no  more  for  the  l).d)ari'vs  tlian  I 
care  for  dolmny  (iroats.  1  live  on  none  >>'  then-  ImuI.  aiul  noi 
a  pnt"s-w()rth  did  they  ever  send  lo  tic  Sugar  Loaf.  I  "m  not 
frightened  at  llie  Debarrys  :  tliere  ">  no  man  more  ind.eH-iuf-nt 
tlian  me.  T  "11  jiluni])  or  I  '11  sjilit:  for  them  as  treat  me  the 
handsomest  and  are  the  most  of  wliat  I  call  irentlemen  ;  that's 
my  idee.  And  in  the  way  of  liaeting  lor  any  man,  them  arc 
fools  that  don't  employ  nu\'' 

We  mortals  sometimes  cut  a  jutiable  tiL:ure  in  our  attem;it> 
at  display.  AN'e  may  be  sure  ot  onr  own  mei'its.  yet.  ia*allv 
ignorant  of  the  ))oint  of  view  iiom  wliiidi  we  a.re  regar!: -d 
by  our  neighb(Vi".  ( )ur  tine  jiatierns  in  tattotum;  may  l.e  iar 
from  throwing  him  into  a  swoon  mi  idmiration.  thoindi  \vr  turn 
ourselves  all  round  to  show  ineiu.     Thus  it  was  wit  Ii  M  r.  Cdmob 


no  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

'"Yes,"  said  Felix,  dryly;  "I  should  think  there  are  some 
sorts  of  work  i'or  which  you  are  just  fitted." 

"  Ah,  you  see  that  ?  Well,  we  understand  one  another. 
You  're  no  Tory  ;  no  more  am  I.  And  if  I  'd  got  four  hands 
to  show  at  a  ncnnination,  the  Uebarrys  shouldn't  have  one  of 
'em.  My  idee  is,  there  "s  a  deal  too  much  of  their  scutchins 
and  their  nioniments  in  Treby  Church.  What 's  their  scutcliins 
mean?  Tliey 're  a  sign  with  little  liquor  behind 'em ;  that's 
how  I  tal^e  it.  There 's  nobody  can  give  account  of  'em  as  I 
ever  heard." 

Mr.  Chubb  was  hindered  from  furtlier  explaining  his  views 
as  to  the  historical  eh-ment  in  society  by  tlie  arrival  of  new 
guests,  who  ai)])r()acli('d  in  two  groups.  Tha  foremost  group 
consisted  of  wcH-known  colliers,  in  tlieir  good  Sunday  beavers 
and  colored  handkercliiel's  sei'ving  as  cravats,  with  the  long 
ends  floating.  The  second  group  was  a  more  unusual  one, 
and  caused  Mr.  Cliubb  to  compress  his  mouth  and  agitate  the 
musvcles  about  it  in  rather  an  excited  manner. 

First  came  a  smartly  dressed  personage  on  horseback,  with 
a  conspicuous  ex})ansivt'  shirt-front  and  figured  satin  stock. 
He  w;i,s  a  stout  man.  and  gave  a  sti'ong  sense  of  broadcloth. 
A  wild  idea  slidi  thi'ough  .Mr.  Chubb's  brain  :  could  this  gi'and 
visitor  be  Harold  Transome  '.''  Excuse  him  :  he  bad  been 
given  to  understand  by  his  cousin  from  the  distant  Itorough 
fliat  a  Iiadical  candidate,  in  the  condescension  of  t-anvassing 
had  even  gone  the  length  of  eating  bread-and-treacle  with  the 
:-iiildre!i  of  an  lionest  freeman,  and  declaring  his  j)i'efer<'nc(^ 
for  tliat  siiii])le  i'are.  Afr.  Chubl)'s  notion  ol'  a  Kadical  was 
that  he  was  a,  new  and  agreeable  kind  (if  lick-spittle  who 
tawned  (.»ii  the  po^r  instead  of  on  tiie  I'ich.  and  so  was  likely  t(^ 
send  ciislonicrs  to  a,  ■■  piililic;  "  so  that  he  argued  W(dl  enough 
from  the  lii'ciiiises  at  his  (iommaiub 

The  niounl'd  man  of  broadcloth  liad  followers:  several 
shabby-io()biiig  men.  and  S]>roxton  boys  of  all  sizes,  whose 
eiii'iosity  ha;!  ifej)  sliiiiulated  l)y  unexuected  largesse.  A 
stran'^'er  on  liorsebaci:  si'attering  liali'peiitic  (ui  a  Sunday  was 
so  njii)re(!edeii1ed  thai  tberr  was  no  knowing  what  he  might 
do  next;  and  ihe  smuUe^st  t.inibiKjst  fellows  iu  seal-skin  caps 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  141 

were  not  without  hope  that  an  entire]}^  new  order  of  things 
liad  set  in. 

Every  one  waited  outside  for  the  stranger  to  dismount,  and 
Mr.  Chubb  advanced  to  take  the  bridle. 

"  Well,  jNIr.  Chubb,"  were  the  tirst  words  when  the  gi'eat 
man  was  safely  out  of  the  saddle,  *•  I  've  often  heard  of  your 
hne  tap,  and  I'm  come  to  taste  it."' 

"Walk  in,  sir  —  pray  walk  in,"'  said  ^Iv.  Chubb,  giving  the 
horse  to  the  stable-boy.  "I  shall  be  proud  to  draw  for  you. 
If  anybody's  been  praising  me,  I  think  my  ale  v/ill  back 
him." 

All  entered  in  the  rear  of  the  stranger  except  the  boys,  who 
peeped  iu  at  the  winthjw. 

"  Won't  you  please  to  walk  into  the  parlor,  sir  ?  "  said 
Chubb,  obsequiously. 

"  Xo,  no,  I  '11  sit  down  here.  This  is  what  I  like  to  see," 
said  the  stranger,  looking  round  at  the  colliers,  who  eyed  him 
rather  shyly — ''■'a  bright  hearth  where  working  men  can  enjoy 
themselves.  However,  I  '11  stej)  into  tlie  other  room  for  three 
minutes,  just  to  speak  half-a-dozen  woi'ds  witli  you."' 

Mr.  Chubb  threw  oj)en  the  parlor  door,  and  then  stepping 
back,  took  the  o])portunity  of  saying,  in  a  low  tone,  to  Felix, 
"  Do  you  know  this  gentleman  ?  " 

''  Not  I  ;  no."' 

^Iv.  Ciuibb's  opinion  of  Felix  Holt  sank  from  that  moment. 
The  parlor  door  was  closed,  but  no  one  sat  ilown  or  ordered 
beer. 

•' T  say,  master,"  said  ^like  Ilrindle.  going  up  to  Felix,  '"'don't 
you  think  that  's  one  o'  the  'lection  men  ?  " 

"  Very  likely."" 

"I  beared  a  chap  say  thev  "re  up  and  down  everywhere,'' 
saiil  Ih'indle ;  '-and  now  "s  the  time,  tliey  say,  when  a  man  can 
get  beer  for  notliing."' 

''Ay,  that's  sin'  tlie  Ilefoian."'  said  a  big,  r(Ml-whiskeri'd 
man.  called  Dredge.  '"That's  brought  the  'lei'iit)ns  and  tht^ 
drink  into  these  ])arts  ;  for  atore  Uiat,  it  was  all  kep  up  tlie 
Lord  knows  wheer." 

'*  \\  ell,  but  the  Reform  's  uiver  come  anigh.  Spro.v'on,"  saiu  a 


142  FELIX  HOLT,   T^'.   RADICAL. 

gray-haired  but  stalwart  man  called  Old  Sleek.  "  I  don't  be- 
lieve nothing  about  'n,  I  don'u/' 

"Don't  you?'"'  said  Brindle,  with  some  contempt.  "Well, 
I  do.  Tliere  's  folks  won't  believe  beyond  tiie  end  o'  their  own 
pickaxes.  You  can't  drive  nothing  into  'cm,  not  if  you  split 
their  skulls.  I  know  for  certain  sure,  from  a  chap  in  the  cart- 
in"  way,  as  he's  got  money  and  drink  too,  only  for  hollering. 
Eh,  master,  what  do  you  say?"  Brindie  ended,  turning  with 
some  deference  to  Felix. 

'■Should  you  like  to  know  all  about  the  Keform  ?  "  said 
Felix,  using  his  op}iortunity.  "  If  you  would,  I  can  tell 
you.'' 

"Ay,  ay  —  tell 's  ;  you  know,  I '11  be  bound,"  said  several 
voices  at  once. 

'■'Ah,  Ijut  it  will  take  some  little  time.  And  we  must  V)e 
quiet.  The  cleverest  of  3'ou — those  who  are  looked  up  to  in 
the  Chib  —  must  come  and  meet  me  at  Peggy  Button's  cottage 
next  Saturday,  at  seven  o'clock,  after  dark.  And,  Ihandle, 
you  must  liring  that  little  yellow-haired  lad  of  3-ours.  Anc 
anybody  that's  got  a  little  boy — a  very  little  fidlow,  who 
won't  understand  what  is  said  —  may  bring  him.  ]!ut  you 
must  ke»''p  it  close,  you  know.  AVe  do)i't  Ava.ut  fools  there. 
V>\\\  cvf-i'vbody  who  hears  me  may  come.  T  shall  be  at  I'eggy 
Button's.'' 

'■  AMiy.  that's  where  the  WcMlnesday  pronchin'  is."'  said 
Dredge.  "I've  been  afoi'Ccd  to  give  my  wile  a  black  eye 
to  hinder  ]i or  from  going  to  the  prcacliin".  I.iir>-:i-massy,  she 
tliinks  siio  knows  better  nor  me,  and  I  can't  make  head  nor 
tail  (.f  li-r  talk." 

•'Win'  caa't  you  let  tla^  womaii  ahuif  ?  "'  saiil  l)i'iudh\  with 
some  disgust.  "  T  'd  lie  ashamrd  to  beat  a  jumr  crawling  thing 
'cause  she  likes  ])rcachiiicr.'' 

'•  Xo  moi-c  1  dill  1;.  ;it  h<'r  afore,  not  if  she  scrat'  me,"'  said 
Dredge,  in  \iii(lic:ition  ;  "but  if  sli'-  jabbers  at  me.  I  can't 
abide  it,  ir(i\v-^Miiie\-er,  1  "11  brin^-  my  Jack  to  Beggy's  o'  Sat- 
urday. His  nidtli-T  shall  wash  liim.  He  is  but  four  year 
old,  and  he'll  sv/car  and  s(]uarc  at  me  a  good  uii,  if  I  set 
him  on." 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  143 

"There  you  go  blatheriu',"  said  Briudle,  intending  a  mild 
rebuke. 

This  dialogue,  which  was  in  danger  of  becoming  too  per- 
sonal, was  interrupted  by  the  reopening  of  the  parlor  door, 
and  the  reappearance  of  the  impressive  stranger  with  Mr. 
Chubb,  win  se  countenance  seennMl  unusually  radiant. 

^' Sit  you  down  here.  ]\Lr.  Johnson,"  said  Chubb,  riioving  an 
ann-chair.  "This  gentleman  is  ]:ind  enough  to  treat  the  com- 
pany,"' he  added,  looking  round,  "and  what's  more,  he'll  take 
a  cup  with  'em;  and  I  think  tliere 's  no  man  but  what '11  say 
that 's  a  honor." 

The  company  had  nothing  c(piivalent  to  a  "hear,  hear,"  at 
command,  but  they  perhaps  felt  the  more  as  they  seated  tliem- 
selves  with  an  expectation  un\-(nted  by  utterance.  There  was 
a  general  satisfactory  sense  tli;it  the  hitlierto  shadowy  Keform 
had  at  length  conn;  to  S])roxton  in  a  good  round  sha}ic,  with 
i'.roadcloth  and  pockets.  Felix  did  not  intend  to  accept  the 
treating,  but  he  chose  to  stay  and  hear,  taking  his  pint  as 
usual. 

"Cai)ital  ale,  capital  ale,"  said  ^Nlr.  Johnson,  as  he  set  down 
his  glass,  speaking  in  a  cpiick,  sniooth  treble.  "Xow,"'  he 
went  on,  with  a  ccrtidn  patlios  in  liis  voice,  looking  at  ^Ir. 
Chubb,  who  sat  opposite,  '-'there's  some  satisfaction  to  me  in 
finding  an  establisliment  like  tliis  at  tiie  Tits.  For  wliat 
would  higlier  wages  do  lor  the  worlcing  man  if  he  couldn't  get 
a  good  article  i'or  his  money?  Wiiy,  gentlenien  "'  —  here  he 
looked  round  —  '•  I  "ve  been  into  ale-houses  where  I've  seen 
a.  iine  fellijw  oi'  a  minei'  or  a  stone-eutter  come  in  and  Jiave 
to  lay  down  money  for  Iteei'  tliat  1  should  be  soi'r\'  to  give  to 
my  pigs  I  "  H.M't>  ^Ir.  Jolnison  leaned  foi'ward  with  S(juared 
elb(.iws,  haiuls  placed  on  his  knee-^.  and  a  deli.'int  shake  oi'  lIh 
head. 

'•  Aw.  like'  at  the  Pdue  Cow,"  fell  in  the  irrepressible  Dredire, 
in  a  deep  bass;  but  lie  was  reluikt'd  by  a  sev(n'e  nudge  fioi;: 
15rindle. 

"  Ves.  yes.  you  know  what  it  i^.  my  friend."  said  Mr.  John- 
son, looking  at  Dro.l^T'.  ?,:\i\  vstoring  liis  s.  If-s-itisla.'rion. 
*'  Rut  it  Y.'on't  last  n.Ui'h  lo;;:;''  r,  that  's  one  iJ(ju(l  tluny;.      Bad 


144  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

liquor  will  be  svrept  away  "U'ith  other  bad  articles.  Trade  will 
prosper  —  and  what 's  trade  now  without  steam  ?  and  what  is 
steam  without  coal  ?  And  mark  you  this,  gentlemen  —  there  's 
no  man  and  no  government  can  make  coal." 

A  brief  loud  "  Haw,  haw,"  showed  that  this  fact  was  appre- 
ciated. 

''Nor  freeston'  nayther,"  said  a  wide-mouthed  wiry  man 
called  Gills,  who  wished  for  an  exhaustive  treatment  of  the 
subject,  being  a  stone-cutter. 

'•'  Xor  freestone,  as  you  say ;  else,  I  think,  if  coal  could  be 
made  abovi'ground.  honest  fellows  who  are  the  pith  of  our 
population  would  not  have  to  bend  their  backs  and  sweat  in  a 
pit  six  days  out  of  the  seven.  No,  no  :  I  say,  as  this  country 
prospers  it  has  more  and  more  need  of  you,  sirs.  It  can  do 
without  a  pack  of  lazy  lords  and  ladies,  but  it  can  never  do 
without  brave  colliers.  And  the  country  ivill  prosper.  I  pledge 
yon  my  word,  sirs,  this  country  will  rise  to  the  tip-top  of  every- 
thing, and  there  is  n't  a  man  in  it  1jut  what  shall  have  his  joint 
in  the  pot,  and  his  spare  money  jingling  in  his  pocket,  if  we 
oidy  exert  ourselves  to  send  the  right  men  to  Parliament  — 
men  who  will  speak  up  for  the  collier,  and  the  stone-cutter, 
and  the  navvy "'  (^Ii-.  Johnson  waved  his  hand  lil)erally), 
''  and  will  stand  no  nonsense.  This  is  a  crisis,  and  we  must 
exrrt  (jurs(.-lves.  AVe  'vu  got  Eeform,  gentlemen.  Imt  now  the 
thing  is  to  make  Eeform  work.  It's  a  cri.sis — I  })ledgc  you 
my  wnvA  it  's  a  fiisis.'' 

]\Ir.  Johiison  threw  himself  back  as  if  from  the  concussion  of 
tliat  grejt  noun.  He  di<l  not  supjiose  tliat  one  of  his  nudieuee 
laiew  v;li;!t  a.  crisis  meant;  but  lie  liad  lari^-e  ex])ei'ienc<'  in  tlio 
eiTcet  oi'  uiie(ii;i|irehende(l  words;  and  in  tliis  ease  the  colliers 
w^'re  tlirown  into  a  state  of  conviction  coneerninL:  tli'-y  did  not 
l;no\v  wliat.  v/1iieli  was  a  fine  ])ri']iaTation  U)V  '-hitting  out,"  or 
any  otliei-  ,irt  i-arryin'^''  a  due  seijnenee  to  sueh  a  conviction. 

Felix  f-'lt  liinis.'lf  in  ilana:er  of  ^-etting  into  a  rage.  There 
is  hardly  any  mental  misery  worse  than  that  of  having  our 
own  serious  ])]iras''S.  our  own  roofei]  lirliefs.  eai'icatured  by  a 
charlatan  or  a  }ni'eliii'_r.  He  bi"; m  to  feel  tlie  sharp  lower  edge 
of  his  tin  ^^iiiit-m'M'^iir".  and  to  tliink  it  a  tempting  missile. 


FELIX  HOLT,  THE  RADICAL.         145 

Mr.  Johnson  certainly  had  some  qualifications  as  an  orator. 
After  this  impressive  pause  he  leaned  forward  again,  and  said, 
in  a  lowered  tone,  looking  round  — 

"  I  think  you  all  know  the  good  n(!ws." 

There  was  a  movement  of  shoe-soles  on  the  quarried  floor, 
and  a  scrajie  of  some  chair  legs,  but  no  other  answer. 

"The  good  news  I  mean  is,  that  a  first-rate  man,  Mr.  Tran- 
some  of  Transonic  Court,  has  offered  himself  to  represent  you 
in  Parliament,  sirs.  I  say  you  in  })articidar,  for  what  he  has 
at  heart  is  the  welfare  of  the  working  man  —  of  the  lirave  fel- 
lows that  wield  the  pickaxe  and  the  saw,  and  the  hammer. 
He's  rich  —  has  more  money  than  Garstin  —  V)ut  he  doesn't 
Avant  to  keep  it  to  himself.  AVhat  he  wants  is,  to  ]iiake  a  good 
use  of  it,  gentlemen.  He  's  conu^  back  from  foreign  parts  with 
his  pockets  full  of  gold,  lie  could  buy  up  the  Debarrys  if 
they  were  worth  buying,  but  he  's  got  siuncthing  ijctter  to  do 
with  his  money.  He  means  to  use  it  for  the  good  oi'  the 
working  men  in  tliese  ])arts.  1  know  tliere  are  some  mvii  who 
put  up  for  rarliament  and  talk  a  little  tcjo  big.  Tliey  may 
say  they  want  ti,)  befriend  tlie  colliers.  I'or  cxaiu])le.  P.ut  I 
should  like  to  put  ;i  (juestion  to  tliem.  I  should  like  to  ask 
them,  'What  eolliers'.""  'I'liere  are  colliers  uj)  at  Xewcastle. 
and  there  are  colliei's  down  in  \\'ales.  ^^'ill  it  do  any  good  to 
honest  Tom.  who  is  hungr}"  in  Sproxt<>n.  to  lieai'  that  dack  at 
Xewcastle  lias  his  bellyful  of  bcei'  and  pudding  '.' " 

''It  ought  to  do  him  good."  l"(dix  Imrst  in.  with  his  loud 
abrupt  voice,  in  odd  contrast  with  glib  31r.  -Ti  ilni.^on's.  ■•If  he 
kncnvs  it's  a  bad  thing  to  be  huii':^-ry  and  not  have  ( noii-'li  to 
eat.  he  ought  to  be  glad  that  another  fellow.  A\ho  is  not  idle,  is 
not  suffering  in  the  same  way." 

Every  one  was  startled.  The  audumce  was  mueh  imiiressed 
with  the  grand.i'ur.  tlie  knowledge,  and  the  ]ioweroi  Mr.  John- 
son. His  ])rilliant  ]iromis(-.;  confirmed  the  impression  that  IJe- 
form  had  at  leiiLrth  rea(die1  the  X.mv  I'its;  and  ladbrm.  if  it 
were  good  for  aiivthing.  murt  at  l.ast  resolve  itself  into  .-^^are 
mon(\v  — meaning  ••  sport  "  and  didnk.  and  keepinrf  av.ay  fro)n 
work  for  several  ihays  in  the  weob.  These  ••  bi' ive  "  i;:'Ti  of 
Sproxton  liked    Felix   as    one  ci    themselves.  oid%"  no^di    •■'<^v> 


146  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

,vi-j\ving  —  as  a  working  man  who  had  seen  many  distant  parts, 
i.::t  \vho  iQust  be  very  poor,  since  he  never  drank  more  than  a 
j'iut  or  so.  j'hey  were  quite  inclined  to  hear  what  he  had  got 
-jj  s;iy  on  ancilicr  occasion,  but  they  were  ratlier  irritated  by 
hi.s  HitcrriU'tion  ;it  the  present  nujuient.  ^h\  Johnson  was 
,:;i;!jy'..Ml,  ijut  he  :^[.oke  with  th--  same  glib  quietness  as  before, 
•  ■;  .:;  Ji  witli  iM  i-X|ir.''Ssion  of  contempt. 

••  i  Cull  it  a  p.i.ir-S|iirited  thing  to  take  u})  a  man's  straight- 
iV'l■^vanl  words  r.iid  twist  them.  What  I  meant  to  say  was 
m1i;:i  enough  —  iliat  no  man  can  be  saved  from  starving  by 
]')  >i;:ng  on  while  others  cat.  I  think  that's  common-sense,  eh, 
sli-.  ?■' 

Tlu.re  was  again  an  approving  '-'Haw,  h;iw.''  To  hear  any- 
lliiiig  siiid,  and  understand  it,  was  a  stimulus  that  had  the 
1  y.  -rt  of  wit.  Yiy.  Cliubb  cast  a  suspicitius  and  viperijus  glance 
at  L^dix,  who  f.  It  that  he  had  been  a  simjdeton  for  his  pains. 

••'AVell.  then,''  continued  ]^>Ir.  Johnson,  "I  suppose  I  may  go 
on.  But  if  tliei'v;  is  any  one  hero  better  able  to  inform  the 
Cijmpany  tlian  I  am,  I  give  way  —  I  give  way." 

''Sir,''"  said  ^dr.  Chubb,  magisterially,  '•no  man  shall  take 
tlif  words  out  of  f/oi(.i'  mouth  in  this  house.  And,"'  he  added, 
Io.;king  pointedly  at  Felix,  '-'company  tliat  "s  got  no  more 
'iril'Ts  to  give,  and  wants  to  turn  up  rusty  to  them  that  has, 
iai'l  b(,'tttjr  be  ju, iking  room  than  filling  it.  Love  an* 'armony 's 
ill.'  v.wvd  ou  our  Club's  dag,  an"  love  an"  'ai-mony  "s  the  mean- 
'iiV  o:'  ''l"!i.'  Si;;.::ir  Loaf,  Wdliaia  Clud)b."  Folks  oi  a  dilferent 
:  ;iiid  ]i.A  I'.'iuT  sofl-:  I'.iiothcr  houso.  of  call."'" 

••  \'ei'\  gooii,"  .-;dd  l^'lix,  laying  down  liis  nimiey  and  taking 
i::s  caj'.  ••I'm  going."  lie  saw  I'lcarly  oiiougli  that  if  lie 
.-.'I  iiior.',  1  lii'i-o  woiili]  be  a  di.-i  urliancL'  winch   could  have  no 

a  ■.'•■.!■.!-  .-id. 

W'lpii  till'  M'or  h:!d  dosed  Viehind  liim,  Mr.  Johnson  said, 
'•  Wli-it   i.>  i  ii,i;   j  :i'rsoii",s  ii;ime  ?  " 

■•  J)()os  ;i!iyi;oily  ]-;no\v  it?''  said  ]Mr.  Chubb. 

A  few  no''>  Wi'i'c  h>;i'-i. 

■■'I've  heai'tl  ]iiii!  .-of:d:  l;k»'  a  downriglit  "Reformer,  else  I 
fhruld  have  looki'd  ;i  i;tt  ],-  sharper  after  him.  But  you  may 
■-e  he  "s  nothiuLT  i..trtic"l:vr." 


FELIX    HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  147 

"It  looks  rather  bad  that  no  one  knows  his  name,"  said  Mr. 
Jolmson.  ''H'j's  most  likely  a  Tory  in  disguise  —  a  Tory  spy. 
You  must  be  eareful,  sirs,  of  men  who  come  to  you  and  say 
they're  liadioals,  and  yet  do  nothing  for  you.  They'll  stulf 
you  with  words  —  no  lack  of  words  —  but  words  are  wind. 
Xow,  a  man  like  Transome  com<\s  forward  and  says  to  the 
working  men  of  this  coitntry  :  '  Here  I  am,  ready  to  serve  you 
and  to  speak  for  you  in  Parliament,  and  to  get  the  laws  made 
all  right  for  you  ;  and  in  the  meanwhile,  if  there  's  any  of  you 
who  are  my  neighbors  who  Avant  a  day's  holiday,  or  a  cup  to 
tlrink  with  friends,  or  a  copy  of  the  King's  likeness  —  why, 
I  'm  your  man.  I'm  not  a  paper  handbill  —  all  words  and  no 
substance  —  nor  a  man  with  land  and  nothing  else;  I've  got 
bags  of  gold  as  well  as  land.'  I  think  you  know  what  I  mean 
by  the  King's  likeness  ?  '' 

Here  ^Ir,  Johnson  took  a  half-crown  out  of  his  pocket  and 
held  the  head  towards  the  company. 

■'■  Well,  sirs,  there  arc  some  ]ri"n  v^'ho  like  to  keep  this  pretty 
picture  a  great  deal  t(jo  much  to  themselves.  I  don't  know 
whether  I'm  riuht,  b'Ut  I  think  I  'vo  heard  oi'  such  a  one  not  a 
hiuidred  miles  from  hei'e.  I  think  Ids  name  was  Spratt,  and 
he  managed  some  cfuupany's  coal-pits."' 

"Haw,  haw  I  .~>]iratt  —  Spratt  "s  Lis  name,''  was  rolled  forth 
to  an  accompanim"nt  of  scraping  shoe-soles. 

"A  screwing  fellow,  by  what  1  understand  —  a  domineering 
fellow  —  v:][n  Would  exjiert  men  to  do  as  he  liked  without 
pa.ying  them  for  it.  T  think  there  "s  not  ;m  honest  man  who 
wouldn't  lilc'e  to  di-appiiisn  sui'h  an  upstart." 

'I'liere  was  a  mniaiiui'  whicli  was  interjireted  by  l\Ir.  Chubb. 
'■'  I  "11  answer  ior  "em,  sir." 

'•  Xow,  listen  to  nc  Hei-e  "s  Garstin  :  he  's  one  of  the  Coni- 
]iany  you  work  utider.  Whai  '>  Oai'stin  to  you?  Avho  sc's 
him?  and  when  thi'V  ilo  -^ee  liim  they  see  alliin  miserly  felhew 
who  keeps  his  i^.irhrts  bnrtoiiod.  If.'  e^lls  hinis.df  a  A\'i.i'r, 
yet  he'll  split  votrs  with  a  Tory — he'll  diivc  with  the  ]  )t- 
barrys.  Xow.  '_:er,; 'a-nien.  if  I  saiii  I  "if  '_;'or  a  vote,  ami  ativl'ody 
asi^ed  me  what  I  sli.-uld  do  ^vitii  it.  T  shoubl  sa.y.  -I  "11  jjbimp 
for  Transome.'     You've    <jot   uu    ^■o^(^^.   aiid   tliai  's    a   shame. 


148  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

I)ut  you  ?/•///  have  some  day,  if  such  men  as  Transome  are  re- 
turned ;  aud  then  you  '11  be  on  a  leved  with  tlie  first  gentleman 
in  the  land,  aud  if  he  wants  to  sit  in  Parliament,  he  must  take 
off  his  hat  and  ask  your  leave.  But  tliough  you  have  n't  got  a 
vote  you  can  give  a  clieer  for  the  right  man,  and  Transome  '"s 
not  a  m;in  like  Garstin;  if  you  lost  a  day's  wages  by  giving  a 
cheer  for  Transome,  lie  '11  make  you  amends.  That's  the  wa\ 
a  man  who  has  no  y()b;  can  yet  serve  himself  and  his  country  ; 
lie  can  lift  up  Iiis  hand  and  siiout  'Transome  forever  I  ' — ■ 
'Imrray  for  Transome  I '  Li't  the'  working  ni^n  —  let  colliers 
aud  navvies  and  SLone-cutters,  wlio  between  you  and  me  have 
a  good  de;d  too  much  th(i  v.'or.^t  of  it,  as  tilings  ari'  now  —  let 
tlu'm  join  togetln;]'  aud  give  tlicir  hands  and  voices  for  the 
]'\glit  man.  and  they  11  make  tiie  great  people  sliake  in  tlieir 
slajes  a^  little  ;  and  vdien  you  shout  for  'I'ransome,  remember 
you  shout  fo]-  more  wages,  and  more  of  your  riglits,  and  you 
sliout  to  get  rid  of  rats  and  .y^rffs 'd\i'\  such  small  animals,  who 
ai'e  tlie  tools  the  rich  make  use  <jf  t(j  S(jueeze  the  blood  out  of 
the  pofjr  man.'' 

'"'  I  wisli  there  'd  be  a  row  —  1  \1  pommel  him,"  said  Dredge, 
Vv-]if)  Avas  generally  felt  to  ]je  speaking  to  the  fiuestion. 

"Xo.  no.  my  fi-iend  —  there  you  "I'e  a  little  w]-(>n;j;.  Xo  pom- 
nulliii','-  —  no  sti'iking  first.  "J'here  you  have  the  law  and  the 
constable  against  you.  A  liitle  rolling  in  the  dust  and  knock- 
ing liMt^^  olT,  a  little  pelting  with  soft  things  thai  '11  ,-lick  and 
not  briii '(■  —  ;i]l  that  doesn't  sjioil  the  fun.  bf  a,  man  is  to 
speab"  v/]ieii  v(,ii  fhm't  like  to  hearhim.it  islnit  biir  you  sliould 
c^-ivi'  iiini  soaiitliiug  iie  doesn't  like  in  return.  And  the  sane 
ii'  lie  "s  ^-iit  a  vote  mill  di.i.'sn't  u^''  it  for  the  good  of  the  eoim. 
try:  I  ■<'■!■  ^\"  liarni  in  s]ilittin'_r  lii:<  coat  in  a  quiet  way. 
man  nin-^t  be  i;:ii',dit  v.-bat  "s  ri'_rlit  if  li'-  doesn't  kiiow  it.  But 
no  kiek-.  iKi  Icnoekin'^^  down,  no  ]iouimel]in'_r." 

"  It  "ml  be  '_i;'irid  fun.  tboiigh.  il'  soV/c,"  said  Old  Sleek,  allow- 
imr  hinr-'"H  an  ini;e_rinat  i  ■.•''  ]ileasure. 

"  ^^'elb  well,  i '■  a  Spi;itt  w.'uits  vou  to  say  Garstin.  it's  some 
]ile;isnre  to  1  liink  y<]U  e;iii  say  TT'ansome.  Xow.  rnv  notion  is 
tliis.  Vou  'ire  men  who  ean  jiut  twi  and  t  v,  o  together  -  I 
don't  know  a  more  solid  lot  ol'  iellows  IJiau  vou  a,re  ;  and  what 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  149 

I  say  is,  let  the  honest  men  in  this  country  who  've  got  no  vote 
show  themselves  in  a  body  when  they  have  the  chance.  Why, 
sirs,  for  every  Tory  sneak  that 's  got  a  vote,  there  's  hfty-fivc 
fellows  who  must  stand  by  and  be  expected  to  hold  their 
tongues.  But  I  say,  let  'em  hiss  the  sneaks,  let  'em  groan  at 
the  sneaks,  and  the  sneaks  will  be  ashamed  of  themselves. 
The  men  who  've  got  votes  don't  know  how  to  use  them. 
There  "s  many  a  fool  with  a  vote,  who  is  not  sure  in  his  mind 
whether  he  shall  poll,  say  for  Debarry,  or  Garstin,  or  Tran- 
sonic—  whether  he'll  plump  or  whether  he '11  split ;  a  straw 
will  turn  him.  Let  him  know  your  miud  if  he  does  n't  know 
his  own.  What 's  the  reason  Dcljarry  gets  returned  ?  Because 
people  are  frightened  at  the  Debarrj's.  What 's  that  to  you  ? 
You  don't  care  for  the  Debarrys.  If  people  are  frightened  at 
the  Tories,  we'll  turn  vound  and  frighten  tJiem.  You  know 
what  a  Tory  is  —  one  who  wants  to  drive  the  working  men  as 
he  'd  drive  cattle.  That 's  what  a  Tory  is  ;  and  a  Whig  is  no 
better,  if  he  "s  like  Garstin.  A  Whig  wants  to  knock  the  Tory 
down  and  g('t  tin;  whip,  that  "s  all.  But  Transome  "s  neither 
W^hig  nor  Tory  ;  he  \s  the  working  man's  friend,  the  collier's 
friend,  the  friend  of  the  honest  navvy.  And  if  he  gets  into 
Parliament,  let  me  tell  you,  it  will  be  tlio  better  for  3'ou.  I 
don't  say  it  will  I)0  tlie  better  for  overlookers  and  screws,  and 
rats  and  sprnt.^  ■  l)ut  it  will  be  the  better  for  every  good  fellow 
who  takt's  his  pot  at  the  Sugar  Loai'." 

j\[r.  Johnson's  exertions  for  the  i)olitical  education  of  the 
Sproxton  men  did  not  stoji  here,  whicli  was  tlie  more  disint(n'- 
ested  in  him  as  he  did  not  ex])ect  to  see  them  again,  and  could 
only  set  on  foot  an  organization  by  whicli  tlieir  instruction 
could  be  contiiuicd  witliout  liim.  In  tliis  he  was  quite  success- 
ful. A  nuin  kiiown  among  tin-  •■butti(\s"  as  Back,  wlio  had 
already  been  nicntioncil  by  Mr.  C'lu.il)b.  prrsenllv  joined  the 
party,  and  liad  a  private  audirncr  of  Air.  Johnson,  that  ho 
might  be  institnt''d  as  the  ■•  sl!"ph<M'd  "'  of  this  new  floi-k. 

"That  's  a  right  dowi!  g'aclnian,''  said  I'ack,  as  he  took  the 
scat  vacated  by  the  (*ralnv.  Avho  had  ridd(Mi  away. 

'■What's  his  trade,  thiidv  you?"  said  Gills,  the  wiry  stone- 
cutter. 


150  FELIX  HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"  Trade  ?  "  said  Mr.  Chubb.  "  He  's  one  of  the  top-sawyers 
of  the  country.     He  works  with  his  head,  you  may  see  that." 

''  Let 's  have  our  pi^jes,  then,"  said  Okl  Sleek ;  '<  I  'ui  pretty 
well  tired  o'  jaw." 

"So  am  I,"  said  Dredge.  "It's  wriggling  work  —  like  fol- 
lering  a  stoat.  It  makes  a  man  dry.  I  "d  as  lief  hear  preach- 
ing, on'y  there's  nought  to  be  got  by 't.  I  shouldn't  know 
which  end  I  stood  on  if  it  wasn't  for  the  tickets  and  the 
treatiu'." 


CHAPTER  XIL 

"  Oh,  sir,  't  was  tliat  mixture  of  spite  and  over-fod  nir-rriment  wliicli  pa,sses 
for  huitKjr  witli  the  vulgar,  bi  their  fun  they  liave  much  resenihhinec  to  a 
turkey-eoek.  It  has  a  cruel  beak,  aii<l  a  silly  iteration  of  ugly  sounds;  it 
spreads  its  tail  iu  self-glorifieation,  hut  shows  you  tlie  wrong  side  of  that  orua- 
iiient  —  liking  aduiiratioji,  but  kuowiug  not  what  is  admirable." 

This  Sunday  evening,  which  promised  to  be  so  memorable 
in  the  experience  of  the  Sproxton  miners,  liad  its  drnma  also 
for  tliose  unsatisfactory  objects  to  ]\Ir.  Jolnison's  moral  sense, 
the  l)el)ariys.  Cc'rtaiii  ineid(Mits  occurring  at  Trelty  Manor 
caused  ;i.ii  cxcil.oinent  there  \\-]iieli  sjirend  fi'om  the  dining-room 
to  the  si;)iries;  ])iit  no  ono  underwent  such  agitating  transitions 
of  feeliii'4'  -'(i  Mr.  Scales.  At  six  o'clock  that  superior  butler 
was  clnickling  in  trium[)h  at  liaving  ]ilaycd  a  ilue  and  original 
])rael.ical  joke  on  liis  rival  ^Iv.  (Jliristian.  Some,  tv\'o  liours 
after  that  time,  he  was  friglitened,  Sony,  and  ev(Mi  meelv  ;  lie 
was  on  the  biank  o['  a,  Innniliating  confession  ;  Iiis  ch(!eks  were 
almost  livid;  his  liaii'  was  thittened  for  want  of  due  attention 
from  his  lingers  ;  and  tlic  line  roll  of  Ins  whiskers,  which  was 
t(jo  tlrm  to  give  \'.a3',  sccined  only  a,  sad  rcminiscenc(!  of  past 
splendor  and  felicity.      His  soi-row  came  abcMit  in  this  wise. 

After  service  on  t!;  ;t  Sumlay  morning.  Mr.  Philip  Debarry 
liad  left  the  rest  of  tli."  family  to  go  home  in  the  carriage,  and 
had  remained  at  the  ]»eo(()r\-  to  Imich  with  his  uncle  Augustus, 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  151 

that  he  might  consult  liini  touching  some  letters  of  importance. 
He  had  returned  the  letters  to  his  ])ocket-book  but  had  not 
returned  the  book  to  his  pocket,  and  he  finally  walked  away 
leaving  the  enclosure  of  private  papers  and  bank-notes  on  his 
uncle's  escritoire.  Alter  liis  arrival  at  home  he  was  reminded 
of  his  omission,  and  immediately  despatched  Christian  with  a 
note  begging  his  uncle  to  seal  up  the  pocket-book  and  send  it 
by  the  bearer.  This  commission,  which  was  given  between 
three  and  four  o'clock,  happened  to  be  very  unwelcome  to  the 
courier.  The  fact  was  that  ^Ir,  Christian,  who  had  been  re- 
markable through  life  for  that  power  of  adapting  himself  to 
circumstances  which  enables  a  man  to  fall  safely  on  all-fours 
in  the  most  hurried  expulsions  and  escapes,  was  not  exempt 
from  bodily  suffering  —  a  circumstance  to  which  there  is  no 
known  way  of  adapting  one's  self  so  as  to  be  perfectly  comfort- 
able under  it,  or  to  ])ush  it  off  on  to  other  people's  shoulders. 
He  did  wliat  he  could:  ho  took  doses  of  opium  when  he  had 
an  access  u[  nervous  ])ains,  and  he  consoled  himself  as  to  future 
possibilities  by  tlunkiiig  that  if  the  pains  ever  became  intoler- 
ably frequent  a  considerabh^  increase  in  the  dose  might  put 
an  end  to  tliem  altogetlier.  He  was  neither  Cato  nor  Hamlet, 
and  thougli  he  had  learned  their  soliloquies  at  his  first  boarding- 
school,  he  would  probably  have  increased  his  dose  without 
reciting  those  mast(>r|)ieces.  Xext  to  the  })ani  itself  he  dis- 
liked that  any  one'  should  know  of  it :  defiM'tivo  health  dimin- 
ished a  nuiu's  market  value;  he  did  not  like  to  be  the  object 
of  the  sort  of  pity  he  himself  gave  to  a  [loor  devil  who  was 
forced  to  make  a  wry  face  or  ''give  in  "'  altogether. 

He  had  fidt  it  ex])edient  to  take  a,  slight  dose  'his  afternoon, 
and  still  lu>  was  not  iiltogetlier  relit'ved  at  the  time  he  set  off 
to  the  Ivcetory.  On  returning  with  the  valuable  case  safely 
deposited  in  his  hind  pocket,  he  felt  increasing  bodily  uneasi- 
ness, and  took  aiiother  dose,  'idiinking  it  likely  that  he 
looked  rather  ]ntiable,  he  choM'  not  t.o  proceed  to  the  house  by 
the  earriage-roail.  The  servants  tilteu  walked  in  the  i)ark  on 
a  Sunday,  and  he  wished  to  avoid  any  meeting.  He  would 
make  a  circuit,  get  into  the  Iioum'  privatelv.  and  after  deliver- 
ing his  packet  to  Mr.  Debarry,  .shut  himself  up  till  tiie  ringing 


152  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

of  the  half-hour  bell.  But  when  he  reached  an  elbowed  seat 
under  some  sycamores,  he  felt  so  ill  at  ease  that  he  yielded  to 
the  temptation  of  throwing  himself  on  it  to  rest  a  little.  He 
looked  at  his  watch  :  it  was  but  five ;  he  had  done  his  errand 
quickly  latherto,  and  ^h\  Debarry  had  not  urged  haste.  But 
in  less  than  ten  minutes  he  was  in  a  sound  sleep.  Certain 
conditions  of  his  system  had  determined  a  stronger  effect 
than  usual  from  the  opium. 

As  he  had  expected,  there  were  servants  strolling  in  the 
])ark,  but  they  did  not  all  choose  the  most  frequented  part. 
Mr.  Scales,  in  pursuit  of  a  slight  flirtation  with  the  younger 
lady's  maid,  had  preferred  a  more  sequestered  walk  in  the 
company  of  that  agreeable  nymph.  And  it  liappened  to  b.e 
this  pair,  of  all  others,  who  alighted  on  the  sleeping  Cliristian 
—  a  sight  which  at  the  very  first  moment  caused  Mr.  Scales  a 
vague  pleasure  as  at  an  incident  that  must  lead  to  something 
clever  on  his  part.  To  play  a  trick,  and  make  some  one  or 
other  look  foolish,  was  held  the  most  pointed  form  of  wit 
throughout  the  back  regions  of  the  ]Manor,  and  served  as  a 
constant  substitute  for  theatrical  entertainment :  what  the 
farce  wanted  in  costume  or  '•  make-up  "'  it  gained  in  the  reality 
of  the  mortiiication  which  excited  the  general  laughter.  And 
lo !  here  was  the  offensive,  the  exasperatingly  cool  and  supe- 
rior, C'liri:-tian  caught  comparatively  helpless,  with  his  head 
hanging  on  his  shoulder,  and  one  coat-tail  lianging  out  heavih' 
belo\\-  till-  elboAv  uf  the  rustic  seat.  It  was  this  coat-tail  which 
ser\'i:-(l  as  a  suggestion  to  ~Slv.  Scalos's  genius.  I'utting  his 
finger  n;i  in  warning  to  ^Irs.  Cherry,  and  saying.  "Hush  — 
b(_'  quiet — I  see  a  tine  bit  of  fun"' —  he  took  a  knife  from 
liis  poi-kct,  ste;)})ed  ])ehind  the  unconscious  Cliristian.  and 
quickly  cut  oil'  tlie  pemlant  coat-tail.  Scales  knew  nothing  of 
the  ei'i'and  to  the  Kectory;  and  as  lie  noticed  that  there  was 
sometliing  in  th*:'  jiocket.  thought  it  was  prcjljably  a  largi; 
cigar-case.  So  mucli  the  ])etter  —  lie  tiad  no  time  to  pause. 
He  threw  the  coat-tail  as  far  as  lie  could,  and  noticed  that  it 
fell  .iinong  the-  elms  uiider  which  tlu^y  had  Ijeen  walking. 
Then,  beckoniii'-r  to  .Mrs.  ('hevry.  he  liunaed  awav  with  her 
towards  the  mure  open  part  of  the  park,  not  daring  to  explode 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  158 

in  laughter  until  it  was  safe  from  the  clianee  of  waking  the 
sleeper.  And  then  the  vi.sion  of  the  graceful  well-appoiuttid 
Mr.  Christian,  who  sneered  at  Scales  about  his  '•  get  up,"  hav- 
ing tu  walk  back  to  the  house  with  only  one  tail  to  his  coat, 
was  a  source  of  so  much  enj(;yment  to  the  butler,  that  tlu;  fair 
Cherry  began  to  be  quite  jealous  of  the  joke.  Still  she  ad- 
niittt'd  that  it  really  was  funny,  tittered  intermittently,  and 
pledged  herself  to  secrecy.  J^lr.  Scales  ex}jlaini'd  to  iier  that 
Cliristian  would  try  to  creep  in  unobserved,  but  that  this  must 
be  made  impossible;  and  he  requested  her  to  imagine  the 
figure  this  iiiterioping  fellow  would  cut  when  everxbod}-  was 
asking  what  liad  happened.  '•  Hallo,  Christian  !  where  "s  .your 
coat  tail?"  would  become  a  proverb  at  the  ]\lanor,  where 
jokes  kept  remarkably  well  without  the  aid  of  salt;  and  Mr. 
Christian's  comb  would  be  cut  so  eifectually  that  it  would 
take  a  long  time  to  grow  again.  Exit  Scales,  laughing,  and 
])restuiting  a  line  examjde  of  dramatic  irony  to  any  one  in  the 
secret  of  Fat(\ 

AVhfii  ('liristian  awoke,  lie  was  shoeked  to  find  liimself  in 
the  twilight,  lie  started  u}),  shook  himself,  misse<l  something, 
and  Soon  became  aware  what  it  was  he  missed.  He  did  not 
doubt  that  hi;'  had  lieen  robbed,  and  he  at  cnice  i'oresaw  tliat 
the  conse(juences  would  1)0  highly  unpleasant.  Tn  r.o  way 
could  the  cause  of  the  accident  b'C  so  re}ireseiited  to  ^Iv.  I'hilip 
Debarry  as  to  ])revent  him  from  viewing  liis  liitlierto  unim- 
p;  acli;ible  iaeinlum  in  a  new  and  unlavui'able  light.  And 
tliough  Mr.  Clii'istian  did  not  reg;ird  liis  pi-^  sent  })Osition  as 
brilbani.  he  diil  niit  see  his  way  to  ;iiiytliing  bette]-.  A  man 
nearly  lltty  Avho  is  not  always  quite  well  is  seldom  ardeidly 
]io}}(du!  :  he  is  awai'C  that  this  is  a  woi'ld  m  -^vliieh  merit  is 
ofte'n  (iVfi'louked.  ^A'ith  the  idea  .>f  i'(ibbt!]'.\'  in  fall  ]io>session 
of  his  mind,  to  ])eer  about  and  se;ii'idi  in  tlu'  dimness,  even  ij 
it  had  occurred  to  him.  would  have  seenie'il  a  ]ire])osterous 
waste  oi'  liini^  and  eiua'gy.  lb'  kurw  it  vras  liktly  that  Mr. 
Delxirry's  ixjeket-book  had  iniji.ala  at  and  valualile  couLeiits, 
and  that  he  sliould  de(Mien  his  lalenee  b.v  deierring  his  an- 
noujieement  of  tlie  unfoi'tunate  iaet.  He  hastened  tirade  to  the 
iioascj  relieved  by  the  obscurity  i.rom  that  murtiheatiou  of  liia 


154  FELIX  HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

vanity  on  which  the  butler  had  counted.  Indeed,  to  Scales 
himself  the  affair  had  already  begun  to  appear  less  thoroughly 
jocose  than  he  had  anticipated.  For  he  observed  that  Chris- 
tian's non-appearance  before  dinner  had  caused  Mr.  Debarry 
some  consternation ;  and  he  had  gathered  tliat  the  courier  had 
been  sent  on  a  commission  to  the  Eectory.  '•'  My  unele  must 
have  detained  him  for  some  reason  or  other,"'  he  heard  Mr. 
Philip  say :  '•  but  it  is  odd.  If  he  were  less  trusty  about 
commissions,  or  had  ever  seemed  to  drink  too  much,  I  should 
be  uneosy."  Altogether  the  aifair  was  not  taking  the  turn  Mr. 
Scales  luid  intended.  At  last,  when  dinner  had  been  rrmoved, 
and  the  butler's  cliief  duties  were  at  an  end,  it  was  understood 
that  Cliristian  had  entered  without  his  coat-tail,  looking 
serious  aiid  even  agitated  ;  that  he  had  asked  leave  at  once  to 
speak  to  ]Vlr.  Debarry  ;  and  that  he  was  even  then  in  parley 
with  the  gentlemen  in  tlu;  diidng-room.  Scales  was  in  alarm ; 
it  must  have  been  some  property  of  ^Fr.  Debarry's  that  had 
weighted  t]i(^  pocket.  He  took  a  lantern,  got  a  groom  to 
accompany  him  with  another  lantern,  and  with  the  utmost 
practicable  speed  reached  the  fatal  spot  in  the  j)ark.  Ho 
searched  under  the  elms  — he  was  cei'tain  that  the  pocket  had 
fallen  there — and  he  found  the  })()ck('t ;  but  In?  found  it 
empty,  and,  in  S])ite  of  further  searcli.  did  not  iind  the  con- 
tents, tliougli  he  had  at  first  consoit'd  himself  wWa  tliinking 
that  the}-  had  fallen  out,  and  would  be  lying  not  !'ar  off.  He 
returned  with  the  lanterns  and  the  coiil-tnil  and  ;i  most  uncom- 
fortable eonsciousni.'ss  in  that  gi'cat  se;it  (A'  a  Imtlcr's  emotion, 
the  stomacli.  He  had  no  sooner  re-entered  than  he  was  m(  t 
by  Mrs.  Clierry,  pale  and  anxious,  who  drew  him  aside  to  say 
tlKit  if  Ik;  didn't  t(dl  e\erything  slie  would;  that  the  con- 
stables were  to  be  sent  for:  that  there  had  licen  no  end  of 
]);udv-notes  and  letters  and  things  in  ^Ir.  De])arry's  pocket- 
l)ook,  whieh  ('liristian  was  carrying  in  tliat  ver}-  ])0cket  Scales 
liadcutoff;  that  the  Ib'ctor  was  sep.t  for,  the  constable  was 
coming,  ami  they  should  all  be  hfin'j;ed.  ^Nlr.  Scales's  own  in- 
tellect was  anything  but  clear  as  to  the  ])OSsible  issues.  Crest- 
f;dlen,  and  with  the  cr.at-tail  in  Ids  bunds  as  an  attestation 
th;it  lie  was  innocent  of  anything  more  than  a  joke,  he  went 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL.  155 

and.  made  his  confession.  His  story  relieved  Christian  a  little, 
but  did  not  relieve  jMr.  Debarry,  who  was  more  anno}-ed  at 
the  loss  of  the  letters,  and  the  ehanee  of  their  getting  into 
hands  that  might  make  use  of  them,  than  at  the  loss  of  the 
bank-notes.  Xothing  could  be  done  for  the  present,  but  that 
the  lleetoi',  wlio  was  a  magistrate,  should  instruct  the  con- 
stables, and  that  the  spot  in  the  })ark  indieated  by  Scales 
should  again  be  carefully  searched.  This  was  done,  but  in 
vain ;  and  many  of  the  family  at  the  Manor  had  disturbed 
sleep  that  night. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

Give  sorrow  leave  awliile,  to  tutor  me 
To  this  subinis-siou.  —  Richard  11. 

Mean-while  Felix  Holt  had  been  making  his  way  back  from 
Sproxton  to  Treby  in  some  irritation  and  Intterness  of  spirit. 
For  a  little  while  he  wrdked  slowly  along  the  direct  road,  hop- 
ing tliat  ^Ir.  Johnson  would  overtn.ke  him,  in  which  case  he 
wouhl  have  the  ph^isurc  of  quarrelling  with  him.  and  telling 
him  what  he  thought  of  his  intentions  in  coming  to  cant  at 
tht^  Sugar  Loaf.  lUit  he  ])resently  (diecked  himself  in  this 
folly  and  turned  off  again  towarils  the  canal,  that  he  might 
avoid  the  tem[)tation  o!'  gi'tting  into  a  ])assion  to  no  })urpose. 

'•Where's  the  good,""  he  thought.  ••  of  [lulling  at  such  a  tan- 
f'ded  skein  as  this  electi(_inecring  triidccr}- ?  As  long  as  thrce- 
I'ourths  of  the  men  in  this  country  see  nothing  in  an  election 
l)ut  self-interest,  and  nothing  in  srlf-iutcrest  but  sonu>  form  of 
greed,  one  might  as  well  try  to  purify  the  proceedings  of  the 
iislies,  and  say  to  a.  lumgry  codilsh  — •  ■  ^fy  good  friend,  abstain  ; 
don't  goggle  your  eyes  so,  ov  .--hd'.'.'  sueh  a  stiipid  gluttonous 
mouth,  or  think  ti;e  little  ti-ius  are  wortli  nothing  exciM>t  in 
relation  to  y(au'  (nvn  inside.'  lb'  'd  be  optui  to  r.o  ai'gument 
short  of  crimping  him.  T  should  ]vX  into  a  rage  witli  this  bd- 
low,  and  perhaps  end  by  thra-iliiii.,  him.     There's  some  I'easoa 


156  f^ELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

in  me  as  long  as  I  keep  my  temper,  but  my  rash  humor  is 

drunkenness  without  wine.  I  slioukl  n't  wonder  if  he  upsets 
all  lay  jilans  with  these  colliers.  Of  course  he's  going  to 
treat  them  for  the  sake  of  getting  u})  a  posse  at  the  nomina- 
tion and  speechi lyings.  They  '11  drink  douole,  and  never  come 
near  me  on  a  Saturday  evening.  1  don't  know  M'liat  sort  of 
man  'J'ransome  really  is.  It  "s  no  use  luy  speaking  to  anybody 
else,  but  if  I  could  get  at  him,  ho  might  ]^)ut  a  veto  on  this 
thing.  Idiough,  when  once  the  men  have  been  promised  and 
set  agoing,  the  mischief  is  likely  to  be  past  mending.  Hang 
the  lhl)eral  codiish  !  I  should  n't  have  minded  so  much  if  he  'd 
been  a  Tory  !  '' 

Felix  went  along  in  the  twilight  struggling  in  this  way  with 
the  intricacies  of  life,  which  v/ould  certainly  be  greatly  simpli- 
lied  if  corrupt  practices  were  the  invariable  mark  of  wrong 
opinions,  ^\'hen  he  had  crossed  the  common  and  liad  entered 
the  park,  the  overshadowing  trees  deepened  the  gray  gloom  of 
the  evening ;  it  was  useless  to  try  and  keep  the  blind  path, 
and  he  could  only  be  careful  that  his  steps  should  be  bent  in 
the  direction  of  the  })ark-gate.  lie  was  striding  along  rapidly 
now,  ^vhistling  "  Bannockburn  "  in  a  subdued  way  as  an  ac' 
com})aninient  to  his  inward  discussion,  when  something  smooth 
and  soft  on  which  his  foot  alighted  arrested  him  with  an  uu- 
])leasant  startling  sensation,  and  made  him  stoop  to  examine 
the  object  he  was  treading  on.  lie.  lV)und  it  to  be  a  large 
leather  iKjeket-l)(_)ok  sv/elled  ])y  its  contents,  and  fastened  with 
a.  Scaled  iioboii  as  well  as  a  clasp.  In  stooping  he  saw  about 
a  yard  elf  something  whitish  and  S(pi;ir(^  lying  on  the  dark 
grass.  This  w;is  an  oi'namental  note-book  cd'  pale  leather 
stamped  w\\]\  gold.  Apparently  it  had  burst  op(M)  in  falling, 
and  (.)ut  of  the  j^oeket.  forjned  by  the  cover,  there  jirotruded  a 
small  gold  chain  about  lour  inches  long,  with  various  seals  and 
(;ther  fiitli  s  attai-lied  to  it  liy  a  ring  at  tlie  end.  Felix  thrust 
Hie  eliain  l>a(T.  and  liiiding  l.liat  1he  clasp  of  the  note-book  was 
IfKikm.  lie  cli.si'd  it  ;ii!il  thi'usl  it  into  his  side-]>oel<et,  walking 
■y.ou'j;  uu'li'r  sdUK'  annoyance  tliat  f;!r*  n^ie  k'.:d  ;i:a;le  him  tlu; 
jindci'  of  artiele;.  In  ]iiiigiiig  most  ])ro!);t.i);y  !o  out'  of  the  family 
at   Treby  ]Manoi'.      He  was  much  too  pi'oud  a  man  to  like  any 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  157 

contact  with  tlie  aristocracy,  and  he  could  still  less  endure 
coming  within  speech  of  their  servants.  Some  plan  must  be 
devised  by  which  he  could  avoid  carrying  these  things  up  to 
the  .Manor  himself  :  he  thought  at  first  of  leaving  them  at  the 
lodge,  but  he  had  a  scruple  against  placing  property,  of  which 
the  owntTJihip  was  after  all  uncertain,  in  the  hands  of  persons 
unknown  to  liim.  It  was  possible  that  the  large  pocket-book 
contained  papers  of  high  importance,  and  that  it  did  not  be- 
long to  any  of  the  Debarry  family.  He  resolved  at  last  to 
carry  his  lindings  to  Mr.  Lyon,  who  would  perhaps  be  good- 
natured  enough  to  save  him  from  the  necessary  transactions 
witli  the  people  at  the  ^Nlanor  by  undertaking  those  trans- 
aetions  himself.  With  tliis  determination  he  walked  straight 
to  ^Falthouse  Yard,  and  waited  outside  the  chapel  until  the 
congregation  was  dispersing,  when  he  passed  along  the  aisle 
to  till'  vestr_y  in  order  to  S])eak  to  the  minister  in  jirivate. 

r>ut  Mr.  Lyon  was  not  alone  when  l>lix  entered.  ]Mr.  Xntt- 
wood,  till'  grnct-r.  wlm  was  one  of  tlie  deacons,  wa^:  eomplaiuing 
to  ]iim  about  the  obstin;iti'  demeanor  of  the  singers,  who  had 
decdiiicd  tu  changi'  llic  nnies  in  accordance  witli  a  change  in 
the  selection  of  liviiiiis.  and  liad  stretcdied  short  metre  into 
long  out  of  pure  wilfulness  and  dehance,  irreverently  adapting 
the  most  sacred  nionosynables  to  a  multitude  of  wandering 
quavi'i's.  arranged,  it  was  to  be  feared,  by  s<ano  musician  who 
was  inspired  by  conceit  rather  than  b}'  tlie  true  spirit  of 
])salmody. 

'•('oiiie  in,  my  friend,''  said  ~Sh\  T;yon,  smiling  at  I'elix.  and 
then  continuing  in  a.  faint  voice,  while  he  wip(_'d  the  pcvsttira- 
tion  from  his  br^w  and  bald  eruwn.  "Ib'other  Tsuitwood,  we 
must  be  content  tn  carry  a  thorn  in  our  sides  wh.ilc  the  necessi- 
ties -.d'  our  imperfect  stati^  demaml  that  tliere  should  be  a  body 
set  a]iart  and  called  a  choii'.  whose  special  olUce  it  is  to  lead 
the  singing,  uot  because  they  ai'e  mere  disposed  to  the  devout 
ujili  i't  ing  (if  praise,  but  bec;ius"  thfV  are  eudoweil  \\\\]i  better 
vocal  (Tgans.  and  liave  attained  niore  of  the  musician's  art. 
Ft)r  all  ('Ij'ice.  uidess  it  be  accoin;i:iiii<'d  by  peeulia.r  grace,  bc- 
coin''s.  as  ii  were,  a  diseased  I'l-^aji.  s.'fklu--  to  mal^e  itsell'  too 
much  (.)f  a  centre.     Singiu's.  s;  ''ciai:\   so  called,  are,  it  must  be 


ir)S  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

confessed;  an  anouialy  among  us  who  seek  to  reduce  the  Church 
to  its  priniiti\'e  simplicity,  and  to  cast  away  all  that  may  ob- 
3truct  the  direct  communion  of  spirit  with  spirit."' 

"  They  are  so  headstrong."  said  Mr.  Nuttwood,  in  a  tone  of 
sad  perplexity,  '-'that  if  wi-  dealt  not  warily  with  them,  they 
might  end  in  dividing  the  churtdi.  even  now  that  we  liave  had 
the  cluij)'.']  cnhirged.  i>rother  Kemp  would  side  with  them, 
and  draw  ; lie  half  iiart  of  the  memhers  after  him.  I  cannot 
but  think  it  ;i  snare  wlien  a  professing  Christian  has  a  bass 
voice  like  ISiother  Ive]n})"s.  It  makes  him  desire  to  be  heard 
of  men  ;  Ijut  the  weaker  song  of  the  humlile  may  have  more 
power  in  the  ear  of  (J'jd."' 

'•'Do  yon  tliink  it  any  better  vanity  to  Hatter  yourself  that 
God  lik(-s  to  hear  you,  though  men  don't'.'''  said  Felix,  with 
un warrant;" 'oil'  IdiuitUi '.->;. 

The  civil  gi'ocer  was  prepared  to  be  scandalized  by  anything 
that  came  Iroin  kelix.  Jn.  common  with  many  hearers  in  Malt- 
liouse  Yard,  he  idn^ady  ftdt  an  ol'jection  to  a  young  man  who 
was  notorious  for  having  interfered  in  a  rpaestion  of  wholesale 
and  rrtail,  Wii.icli  slumld  have  been  Itd't  to  I'rovidence.  Old 
-Mr.  Holt,  bi'iiig  a  cluirch  member,  had  ])robai)ly  had  ••  lead- 
ings"" Vi'hirli  were  more  to  be  relied  on  than  his  <on"s  boasted 
kiKAvii'dg^'.  in  any  ea.sf,  a  little  visceral  di-tiu-bance  and  in- 
Wanl  cliasi  i  ^I'iiK^iit  io  t-ie  consumers  of  questionable  medicines 
W(a;],i  teU'l  le.^s  to  obseure  the  di\dne  gloiy  tlian  a  show  of 
j'un'';  ilioiis  morality  ill  (ine  A\-ho  Avas  i;ot  a  ■•' }'i'o!'e>sor."'  ]^>e- 
sides,  iiow  was  it  to  i:e  known  that  1he  medicii;es  w()uld  not 
l)e  bir.^sed.  ii' taio, 'i:  wi1b  (bielrnstin  a.  hieher  inilueuce?  A 
('lM'i>lian  nra>i  ("■on>idi-i'  n.ot  the  iiieriiein"S  aJone  in  tlieir  rtda- 
tioii  to  our  Trail  iioilies  ('^.vhieh  -.wr  dn.st).  but  tbe  medicines 
witli  ( )nii!i|.e)i  I'lice  iieliind  Ibeiii.  Hence  a  ])ious  vendor  will 
look  lor  •■  Ii-ailing.-.'"  anil  be  is  lil^cly  1o  tind  tlieni  in  ilie  cessa- 
tion ol'  (bauanil  an'l  1he  liisprojioi'tion  oi'  expenses  and  rrtiirns. 
The  groeei-  v/as  tlnis  on  his  gnard  against  tlu'  ]M'esum})tuous 
disputant. 

'■Mr.  f>yori  nia\  un^lia'stand  \(>n.  sii-."  he  rejilied.  '•'He  seems 
to  l)e  fond  .li'  V!  ;i' eM!ivei'>ation.  I'lut  you  liave  too  much  of  the 
oi'ide  of   liuinan  le:in,iiiL:   for  me.      f  iolluw  no  new  li^-hts." 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  150 

"Then  follow  an  old  one,"  said  Felix,  niisehievously  disposed 
towards  a  sleek  tradi^sman.  '•  Follow  the  liglit  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Fresbyterians  that  I  've  heard  sing  at  Glasgow.  The 
prcaeher  gives  out  the  ])salm,  and  then  everybody  sings  a  dif- 
ferent tune,  as  it  happens  to  turn  up  in  their  throats.  It's  a 
domint^eriug  thing  to  set  a  tune  and  expect  (everybody  else  to 
I'ollow   it.      lt"s  a  denial  of  private  judgment.'' 

'•IIusli.  hush,  my  young  friend,""  said  ]Mr.  Lyon,  hui't  by  this 
levity,  which  glanced  at  himself  as  well  as  at  the  deacon. 
'•Flay  not  with  paradoxi'S.  That  caustic  wliicii  you  liandle  in 
order  to  scorch  otiiers,  may  happen  to  sear  your  own  lingers 
;' lid  make  tliem  dead  to  the  quality  of  things.  'T  is  difficult 
cnougli  to  see  our  way  and  keep  our  torch  steady  in  tliis  dim 
hd)yrinth  .  to  whirl  the  torch  and  dazzle  the  eyes  of  our  fel- 
low-seekers is  a  poor  daring,  and  may  end  in  total  darkness. 
A'ou  yourself  ;ire  a  hjvcr  of  freedom,  and  a  bold  reb(d  against 
I'surpiug  auiliority.  lUit  the  right  to  rebellion  is  the  right  to 
s  'ck  a  liiglur  rule,  an;!  not  to  wander  in  mere  lawlessness. 
'\ 'therefore,  I  beseech  you,  si-eni  not  to  say  that  lil.)erty  is  li- 
(•euse.  And  T  apjireliend  —  though  I  am  not  endowed  with  an 
ear  to  seize  tliosc  eartlily  harmonies,  which,  to  some  devout 
s;)uls  have  seemed,  as  it  were,  the  broken  echoes  of  the  heav- 
enly elioir  —  I  apiu'cliend  that  tliere  is  ;i  huv  in  music,  disol)e- 
cience  wliereviiito  wmdd  bring  us  m  our  singing  to  the  level 
of  sliriekin^,''  maniacs  or  Jiowliiig  l»easts  :  so  tli:!t  herein  we  are 
well  instructed  how  true  lilxu'ty  can  be  nouglit  but  tlie  tr;insf(U' 
of  obedienc(^  froiii  tbie  v:\'[\  of  one  or  of  n  fevr  iiwu  to  tliat  v>'ii] 
which  is  the  nrn'm  r.v  rule  for  all  num.  And  thougJi  tlie  ti'ansfer 
may  sometimes  iie  but  ;in  (MTon.eous  direction,  of  senrcli,  yet  is 
tli(i  S(\n'c]i  godd  and  necessary  te  the  iiinmare  iin([ing.  And 
even  ns  in  music,  wb,ere  all  ofiey  and  cnnciu'  to  onvM-nd.  so  tliat 
ea(^h  has  the  joy  oi"  cont'.'ibvding  b)  a  wiiole  whereby  lie  is  rav 
i.-ihed  and  lilted  up  imo  ihe  r^onrts  c-i'  heavcm.  so  will  it  l)e  m 
that  crowning;  timt>  of  the  mille-niual  rei;..ri-,.  when  our  daily 
j'vavei-  will  be  fullilie(l.  aid  one  ]:\\v  shall  l)e  written  on  all 
hi'arts.  and  be  tlie  very  stnietnce  oi'  all  tliouglit.  and  be  the 
princi|)le  oi'  all  action." 

Tired,  even  exhausted,  as  tiie  minister  had  been  wi.eu  c  eiix 


160  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

Holt  entered,  the  gathering  excitement  oi'  speech  gave  more 
and  more  energy  to  his  voice  and  manner ;  he  walked  away 
from  the  vestry  table,  he  paused,  and  came  back  to  it ;  he 
walked  away  again,  then  came  back,  and  ended  witli  his  deep. 
est-t(.ii-d  iargo,  keeping  his  hands  clasped  behind  him,  while 
his  !)!(iwn  eyes  were  bright  with  the  lastmg  youthfulness  of 
;'Utbi:  -asiic  thotight  and  love.  But  to  an}'  ouf  who  had  no 
siiarc  m  the  energies  that  were  tlirilling  his  iittb'  ixjdy,  he 
wottld  have  looked  queer  enough.  ]So  sooner  had  iii'  ilnished 
his  eager  speech,  than,  he  held  out  his  hand  to  the  deacon, 
and  said,  in  his  former  laint  tone  of  fatigue  — 

''  God  be  with  you,  brother.  Wi'  shall  met^t  to-morrow,  and 
we  will  see  what  can  be  done  to  subdue  these  refractory 
Kpirits." 

When  the  deacon  was  gone,  Eelix  said,  '■'  Forgive  me,  Mr. 
Lyon ;  I  was  wrong,  and  you  are  right."' 

*' Yes,  yes,  my  friend  ;  you  have  that  mark  of  grace  within 
yr)u,  that  you  are  ready  to  acknowledge  the  justice  of  a  rebuke. 
Sit  down  ;  you  have  something  to  say  — some  packet  there." 

They  sat  down  at  a  corner  of  the  small  table,  and  Felix  drew 
the  note-l)Of)k  from  his  pocket  to  lay  it  down  with  the  poclcet- 
book,  saying  — 

"I  've  had  the  ill-luck  to  be  the  finder  of  these  things  in  the 
Deljarrys"  Park.  ^Most  likely  they  belong  to  one  of  the  family 
at  the'  ]\ranrir,  or  to  some  grandee  who  is  staying  there.  I  liate 
lia.ving  anvtiiing  to  do  with  such  people.  I'liey'll  tliink  jue  a 
ijiior  i-a-c;il.  and  offer  me  money.  You  are  a  l^novv-ji  nian,  and 
I  tliou'_^}it  voii  v.-onM  fii'  kind  enough  to  relieve  me  by  taking 
chai'ue  ol'  llii'--r  tilings,  and  writing  tfi  Deliai'ry.  not  nientiuning 
me.  and  as];in'^-  liim  to  send  some  one  for  tliem.  I  Found  them 
r>n  tlie  ■_:ras>  m  the  j)ai-k  this  evening  about  lialf-past  seven,  in 
the  coi'iif'r  \vi'  emss  going  to  >Sproxton."" 

'•Stay."  >aid  'Sir.  Lyon,  '-this  little  book  is  ojieii  ;  we  may 
venture  to  look  in  it  for  some  sign  of  owiiershiji.  Tliere  ho 
others  wlio  ])Ossess  jiroperty,  aiid  Juiglit  be  crossing  tliat  end  of 
the  park,  besides  ihe'  Debarrys."' 

As  he  lifted  the  note-book  close  to  liis  eyes,  the  chain  again 
;  iijiped  out.     He  arrested  it  and  held  it  in  his  hand,  while  he 


FELIX  HOLT,    I'lIE  KADICAL.  Itil 

examined  some  writing,  which  appeared  to  be  a  name  on  the 
inner  leatlier.  He  looked  long,  as  if  he  were  trying  to  decipher 
something  that  was  partly  rnbbed  out ;  and  his  liands  began 
to  tremble  noticeably.  He  made  a  movement  in  an  agitated 
manner,  as  if  he  were  going  to  examine  the  chain  and  seals, 
wliich  he  held  in  his  hand.  But  he  checked  himself,  closed 
his  hand  again,  and  rested  it  on  the  table,  while  with  the  other 
hand  he  pressed  the  sides  of  the  note-book  together. 

Felix  observed  his  agitation,  and  was  much  surprised;  but 
witli  a  dtilicacy  of  whicli  he  was  capable  under  all  his  abrupt- 
ness, he  said,  "  You  are  overcome  witli  fatigue,  sir.  I  was 
tlioughtless  to  tease  you  v/itli  tliese  matters  at  the  end  of  Sun- 
day, when  you  have  been  preacliing  three  sermons." 

Mr.  Lyou  did  not  speak  for  a  few  moments,  but  at  last  he 
said  — 

"  It  is  true.  I  am  overcome.  It  was  a  name  I  saw  —  a  name 
that  called  up  a  past  sorrow.  Fear  not ;  1  will  do  what  is 
neeiU'ul  with  tiiese  things.     You  may  trust  tiiem  to  me." 

AVilh  trembling  lingers  he  replaced  the  chain,  and  tied  lioth 
the  large  pocket-l)Ool<:  and  tlu;  note-l)ook  in  his  liandkerchief. 
He  was  evidently  making  a  great  effort  over  liimself.  Ihit 
wlien  he  had  gatiiered  the  knot  of  the  handkerchief  in  his 
hand,  he  said  — 

"Give  me  your  arm  to  the  door,  my  friend.  I  feel  iV. 
Doubtless  I  am  over-wearied." 

The  door  was  already  open,  and  Lyddy  was  watching  for  her 
master's  return.  Felix  therefore  said  (ioo;l-nig]it  and  ])asse(l 
uii.  sure  tliat  this  was  wliat  ^\r.  Lvon  would  prefer.  The  rnin- 
istei'"s  sup}H'r  of  warm  porridge  wa^  ready  by  th(>  kitchen  lii'e. 
where  he  always  took  it  on  a  Suiuhi}"  evening,  and  afterwards 
sniuked  his  weekly  i'ii)e  up  the  brnad  rhiimiey  —  the  one  great 
relaxation  he  allowed  himself.  Suk iking,  he  eonsideriMl,  was 
a.  recreation  of  the  travailed  sj.'irit.  which,  if  indulged  in.  might 
endear  this  world  ti'  us  by  tiie  igni.i'ie  iiouds  of  mere  siMisimus 
ease.  Daily  sim -kiii'j,'  nught,  lir  lawful,  liur  it  was  nor  cajh'- 
ilient.  And  in  this  l^sther  eon<-un'ed  witli  a  doetiinal  i-a-^m'- 
ni'ss  that  was  uinisual  in  her.  It  was  lier  iialiil  to  gololier 
own  room,  professedly  to  bcL^,   .    \j  early  on  Sundays  —  imme- 

VOL.    III.  11 


132  FELIX   HOLT,   THE  KADICAL. 

diately  on  Iier  return  from  chapel — that  she  niiglit  avoid  hei 
father's  pi[;e.  But  this  evening  she  had  remained  at  home, 
under  a  tru'_'  plea  of  not  feeling  well ;  and  when  she  heard  him 
enter,  she  ran  out  of  the  parlor  to  meet  him. 

"Father,  you  are  ill,"  she  said,  as  he  tottered  to  the  wicker- 
bottomed  arm-chair,  while  Lyddy  stood  Ijy,  shaiving  her  head. 

"No,  my  dear,"  he  answered  feebly,  as  slie  took  off  his  hat 
and  looked  in  his  face  inquiringly;  ••  I  am  wearv.'' 

"  Let  me  hu"  these  things  dovrn  for  you,""  said  L.-ither,  touch- 
ing the  bundle  in  the  handkerchief. 

"  Xo ;  tliev  are  matters  which  I  have  to  examine,''"  he  said, 
laying  them  on  tu(i  table,  and  putting  his  arm  across  them. 
"Go  you  to  l)eil,  Lyddy." 

'■  Not  me,  sir.  If  ever  a  nian  looked  as  if  he  was  struck 
with  deatli.  it  "s  you,  tiiis  very  niglir  as  liere  is."' 

"  Xoiiseiisr.  Lyddy,'"'"  saul  Estiier,  angrily.  '•  (h;  to  bed  when 
my  lather  de.-ii'i's  it.      1  will  stay  with  iiim." 

L)'ildy  was  electrified  by  surprise  at  this  new  ijehavior  of 
l\LftS  E-t!]ei''s.     She  took  her  cauille  silently  ami  went. 

"Go  you  too,  my  dear,'"  said  Mr.  Lyon,  tenderly,  giving  liis 
liiind  to  l-^sthcr,  when  Lyddy  was  gone.  "  It  is  your  wont  to 
go  early.     Why  are  you  u[)  ?  " 

"'  Let  me  lii't  your  noiiidge  from  before  the  ilro,  and  stay 
with  you.  lather.  You  think  I  'm  so  naughty  tliiit  I  don't  like 
doing  anything  for  you,"'  said  Esther,  smiling  riitlier  sadly  at 
hi!ii, 

"Cliiid,  wliat  has  Iiapjiened  ?  you  have  'oecrni"  tiie  iningo  of 
your  motiicr  '(o-niglit,'''  said  the  ministi'?.  in  n  I'liid  wliisper. 
Till'  ti-iu's  e;iiae  and  r^lieveil  jiim.  svhili'  E>r]i"r.  who  liad 
sto'iiM-d  to  lilt;  ihe  oorridge  fi'um  the  lendm',  ]ianscd  on  one 
knei'  and  li>.  l:.fd  \\\}  ut  him. 

"^dl-  V,  ;:^  v.ay  gfM,d  to  vou  ?  "'  nsi:ed  Esibor.  softly. 

"  Yi's,  d"ar.  Sill'  did  iiiit  reifef  ihn'  afiei-lictn.  Sh"  tliought 
not  sforn  a?  niv  lovi\  She  wcjnld  have  foruiviT.  nic  if  1  liad 
crreii  a'j-idin-!  lier,  fi-om  very  tendieniess.  ConM  you  forgive 
jiie,  -Idid?"' 

"  FatheT,  T  ]ia\'c  ncit  been  gof)rI  to  ynu  ;  but  T  will  be,  1  will 
be,"  saidi  Ivsther,  laying  her  head  on  liis  knee. 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  163 

He  kissed  her  head.  "  Go  to  bed,  my  dear ;  i  would  be 
alone." 

Wlien  Esther  was  lying  down  that  night,  she  felt  as  if  the 
little  incidents  between  lierself  and  her  father  on  this  Sunday 
had  made  it  an  epoch.  Ver}'  slight  ^\•ords  and  deeds  may  have 
a  sacramental  efficacy,  if  we  can  cast  our  self-love  behind  us, 
in  order  to  say  or  do  them.  And  it  has  been  well  believed 
through  many  ages  that  the  beginning  of  eomjjunetion  is  tire 
beginning  of  a  new  life ;  tliat  the  mind  wliicli  sees  itself 
blameless  may  be  called  dead  in  trespasses  —  in  trt,:s})asses 
on  the  love  of  others,  in  trespasses  on  their  weakness,  in 
trespasses  on  all  those  great  claims  which  are  the  image  of 
our  own   need. 

But  Esther  persisted  in  assuring  herself  that  she  was  not 
bending  to  any  criticism  from  Felix.  She  was  full  of  resent- 
liUMit  against  liis  rudeness,  and  yet  more  against  his  too  iiarsh 
cunccption  oT  her  ehai'acter.  She  was  determined  to  keep  as 
^ueh  at  a  distance  from  him  as  possible. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

This  man  's  metallic  ;  nt  a  sodden  blow 
Ilis  sdiil  rliiiis  liiu'il.     I  caniKit  lay  my  |ialTn, 

Trcnililiiii:  with  life,  ujjnn  iliat  ji>inr;.'i'  brn^s. 
I  .'^hiuMrr  ac  tln'  cnld  iiiiaii.-weriiiu,-  uuich  ; 
But  if  it  press  nic  in  res|iijiisc,  1  'm  ijruiscd. 

Thk  next  morning,  when  t]u>  Dob.ari'ys.  including  the  T'cctor, 
wlic  liad  ridden  over  to  tlie  ^laiior  early,  were  still  seiited  at 
breidd'ast,  Chi'istian  cariie  in  w'.iii  a,  1','ttar,  sa.yir.g  that  it  Iiad 
br'rii  Iji'dught  by  a,  man  einpMiyed  nt  tlie  clinpel  in  ]\!alth()use 
Yard,  who  had  been  ordered  by  ciie  minister  to  use  all  speed 
and  care  in  tlie  deliv(My. 

Tlie  letter  was  adalr(\ss(Hl  to  Sir  IMa.ximus. 

"Stay.  Christian,  it  nvay  jHis^ibly  refer  to  the  List  imeket- 
hook.''  said  khilip  I)cbarry,  who  wa.'^  begmumer  to  feel  i'ather 


164  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

sorry  for  his  factotum,  as  a  reaction  from  previous  suspicions 
and  iudigiiation. 

Sir  Maximus  opened  the  letter  and  felt  for  his  glasses,  but 
then  said,  ''  Here,  you  read  it,  Phil :  the  man  writes  a  hand 
like  small  print." 

Pliilip  cast  his  eyes  over  it,  and  then  read  aloud  in  a  tone  of 
satisfaction :  — 

Sir.  — I  send  this  letter  to  apprise  you  that  I  have  now  in  my  pos- 
8es>ion  certain  articles,  which,  last  eveuini:,  at  about  half-past  seven 
o'clock,  were  found  lying  on  the  grass  at  th  >  western  extremity  of 
your  park.  The  articles  are  —  1°,  a  well-filled  pocket-book,  of  brown 
leather,  fastened  with  a  black  ribbon  and  with  a  seal  of  red  was;  2°, 
a  small  iiote-l)ook,  covered  with  gilded  vellum,  whereof  the  cla>p  was 
burst,  aiul  from  t.)ut  whereof  had  partly  e>caped  a  small  gold  chain, 
with  seals  and  a  locket  attached,  the  locket  bearing  on  the  back  a 
device,  and  round  tlie  face  a  female  name. 

Wherefore  I  re(pi:_'st  that  you  will  further  my  effort  to  place  these 

articles  in  the  right  hands,  by  ascertaining  whether  any  person  within 

your  walls  claims  them  as  his  property,  and  by  sending  that  person  to 

me  (if  such  be  found);  for  I  will  on  no  account  let  them  pass  from  my 

care  save  into  that  of   one  who,  declariner  himself  to  be  the  owner,  can 

state  to  me  what  is  the  impi-ession  on  the  seal,  and  what  the  device 

and  name  upon  the  locket. 

I  am,  Sir, 

Yours  to  command  in  all  right  dealing, 

RuFus  Lyon- 
Malthouse  Yard,  Oct.  3,  1832. 

^<  Well  done,  old  Lyon,-'  said  the  Eector;  "I  didn't  think 
that  any  c()ni})(jsition  of  his  would  ever  give  me  so  much 
pleasuri'."' 

'•  What  an  old  fox  it  is  !  "  said  Sir  ^Maximus.  '■  Why 
couldn't  he  send  the  tilings  to  me  at  once  along  with  tlie 
letter  ?  " 

'^X(ij  no,  Max;  lie  uses  a  justifiable  caution,"  snid  tlie 
liector,  a  rf'tinci]  ami  ratln^r  severe  likeness  of  his  itroth.T, 
with  a  ring  of  fi-arlf.-^.^nes.-^  and  tlecisii^n  in  liis  voice  wliich 
startled  all  flaccid  nifu  and  unruly  boys.  •■  What  are  you 
goirig  to  do.  I'liil  ?  "'  he  ailded.  seeing  his  nephew  rise. 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL.  165 

"  To  write,  of  course.  Those  other  matters  are  yours,  I 
suppose  ?  "'  said  Mr.  Debarry,  looking  at  Christian. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"•  I  shall  send  you  with  a  letter  to  the  preacher.  You  can 
describe  your  own  property.  And  the  seal,  uncle  —  was  it 
your  coat-of-urnis  ?  " 

'•  Xo,  it  was  this  head  ol;'  Achilles.  Here,  I  can  take  it  off 
the  ring,  and  you  can  carry  it,  Christian.  But  don't  lose  that, 
for  I  "ve  had  it  ever  since  eighteen  hundred.  I  should  like  to 
send  my  compliments  with  it."  the  Ilector  went  on.  looking 
at  his  brother,  '•  and  beg  that  since  he  has  so  mueli  wise  cau- 
tion at  command,  he  would  exercise  a  little  in  more  })ubUe 
matters,  instead  of  making  himself  a  firebrand  in  my  jiarish, 
and  teaching  hucksters  and  tape-weavers  that  it  "s  their  lousi- 
ness to  dictate  to  statesmen.'" 

••  How  did  Dissenters,  and  jMethodists,  and  Quakers,  and 
people  of  that  sort  first  come  up,  uncle  ?  "'  said  Miss  .Selina,  a 
radiant  girl  of  twenty,  who  had  given  much  time  to  tiie  harp. 

'•  Dear  me.  St'lina,"  said  her  elder  sister,  Harriet,  wliose 
forte  was  general  knowledge,  ''don't  you  remember  •Wood- 
stock '  ?     They  were  in  Cromwell's  time." 

'•  ()h  !  Holdenough.  and  those  people  ?  Yes  ;  but  they 
preached  in  tlir  cliurche.s  ;  they  had  no  chapels.  Tell  me, 
uncle  (Jus;  I  like  tn  hv  wise,"  said  Selina,  L.ioking  uj)  at  tlie 
face  which  w;is  smiling  dov^n  on  lier  with  a  sort  of  severe 
benignity.     '•  I'hil    s;iys  I  'iii  an   ignor;int  ])uss."' 

'•  'I'he  seeds  of  Nonconfoi'mity  were  sown  at  tlit"!  Tveforma- 
tion.  my  driir.  wlirn  some  obslinnte  men  made  scrupdes  aiiout 
surjilices  and  the  place  oi'  tlu'  (Mimmuuion-table,  and  otli^'r 
tritii's  ol  that  soi't.  But  tin'  (Quakers  c;ime  up  about  Crom- 
widl's  timr.  and  tli.'  .^^■tll(idists  niily  in  tlic  last  century,  'idie 
lirst  ^lethodists  were  r^'gular  (drrgymen.  the  more 's  tlie  luty."' 

••  f!ut  all  tiiosc  wrong  things  —  wliy  did  n't  government  jjut 
thtuu  down  ?  "' 

■'  All.  to  be  sure,''  fell  in  Sir  ^hixinms,  in  a  cordial  toni'  of 
corroboration. 

■■  Hecausc  urror  is  often  strniiLT,  and  government  is  often 
"'eak,  my  dear.      Wcii,  I'hil,  nav,'  }  uu  finished  your  letter  ? '' 


166  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   ilADlCAL. 

*'  Yes,  I  will  read  it  to  you,"  said  3'hilip,  turning  aud  lean- 
ing over  tlie  back  of  his  chair  with  the  letter  in  his  hand. 

There  is  a  portrait  ot  Mr.  Philip  Debarry  still  to  be  seen  at 
Treby  Manor,  and  a  very  line  bust  of  him  at  liome,  where  he 
died  fifteen  years  later,  a  convert  to  Catholicism.  His  face 
would  have  been  plain  but  for  the  exquisite  sotting  of  his 
hazel  eyesj  which  fascinated  even  the  dogs  of  the  household. 
The  other  features,  though  slight  and  irregular,  were  redeemed 
from  triviality  by  the  stamp  of  gravity  aud  intellectual  pre- 
occupation in  his  face  and  bearing.  As  he  read  aloud,  his 
voice  was  what  his  uncle's  might  have  been  if  it  had  been 
modulated  by  delicate  health  aud  a  visitation  of  self-doubt. 

Sir,  —  In  reply  to  the  letter  with  which  you  hiive  favored  me  this 
nioniing,  I  beg  to  state  that  the  ailieles  you  desci'ibe  wew  lost  fi'om 
the  pocket  of  my  servant,  who  is  the  bearer  of  this  letter  to  you,  and 
is  the  elaiinfint  of  the  vellum  uote-i)ook  and  the  gold  chain.  The 
large  leathern  pocket-book  is  my  own  |iro])erty,  and  the  impression 
on  the  wax,  a  helmeted  liead  of  Achilles,  was  made  by  my  micle.  the 
Ilev.  Augustus  Debarry.  who  allows  me  to  forward  his  seal  to  you  in 
proof  that  I  am  not  making  a  mistaken  claim. 

1  feel  myself  under  deep  obligation  to  you,  sir,  for  the  care  and 
trouble  you  have  taken  in  order  to  re.-toro  to  its  right  owner  a  piece 
of  pi'operty  which  hai)pens  to  be  of  particular  importance  to  nic. 
And  I  shall  consider  myself  douMy  fortunate  if  at  any  time  you  can 
2^oint  out  to  me  some  method  by  which  I  may  procure  you  as  lively  a 
satisfaction  as  I  am  now  feeling-,  in  that  full  and  s]K'edy  relief  from 
anxiety  wliich  I  owe  to  your  considerate  conduct. 

I  remain,  Sir,  your  obliged  and  faithful  servant, 

rniLip  1)i;i:arry. 

"You  know  first,  Phil,  of  course,"  s;nd  Sir  Tviaximus.  ]!ush- 
iiig  Ills  plut(^  i'rom  bi]ii,  ])v  wav  of  iidei'jcctiou.  ^"ibit  it 
.-wems  to  luo  you  e.\ag!^n'rate  ]!r{'t)()st'U'();islv  OA'cry  litilo  service 
a  man  baiipeus  Vo  do  lor  you.  '\\']iv  siiould  you  make  a  i:r]\' 
ci'al  offer  of  that  sort?  IIoiw  (]o  you  ];now  wlint  ho  will  be 
asking  you  to  do  ?  SlulT  aud  uonseuM>  !  Tidl  AVillis  to  send 
him  a,  few  lieaal  of  giiiiio.  Y<n  sbouM  tbiuk  twiee  Ijofore  you 
giv,  a  blank  check-  <•['  liiut  sort  to  one  of  these  quibbling, 
meddlesome  Eadicals.'"' 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  1G7 

"  You  are  afraid  of  my  committing  uiyself  to  '  tho  bottom- 
less perjury  of  an  et  cetera/"  said  Philip,  smiling;  as  he 
turned  to  fold  liis  letter.  ''  But  I  think  I  am  not  doing  any 
mischief ;  at  all  events  I  could  not  be  content  to  say  less. 
And  I  have  a  notion  that  he  would  regard  a  present  of  game 
just  now  as  an  insult.     I  should,  in  his  place."' 

''Yes,  yes,  you;  but  you  don't  make  yourself  a  measure 
of  ])issenting  preachers,  I  hope,"  said  Sir  Maximus,  rather 
wrathfully.     "  Wh;it  do  you  say,  Gus  ?  " 

'•'  Phil  is  right,"  said  the  Hector,  in  an  absolute  tone,  "  I 
would  not  deal  with  a  Dissenter,  or  put  profits  into  the  pocket 
of  a  Padical  which  I  might  put  into  the  pocket  of  a  good 
Churchman  and  a  quiet  subject.  Put  if  the  greatest  scoundrel 
in  the  world  made  way  for  me,  or  picked  my  hat  up,  I  would 
thank  him.     So  would  you,  ^Max." 

"Pooh  I  I  didn't  mean  that  one  shouldn't  behave  like  a 
gentleman,"  said  Sir  ]\raximus,  in  some  vexation.  He  had 
great  })ride  in  his  son's  su^veriority  even  to  himself;  but  he  did 
not  enjoy  having  his  ow;i  opinion  argu'^d  down  as  it  always 
was,  and  did  not  quite  trust  tho  dim  vision  opened  by  Phil's 
nvw  words  and  ueAV  notions.  lie  could  only  submit  in  silence 
while  the  letter  was  delivered  to  Cliristian,  with  the  order  to 
start  for  Malthouse  Yard  immediati'ly. 

]\reanwhile,  in  that  somewhat  dim  locality  the  possible 
claimant  of  the  note-book  and  tho  chain  was  thought  of  anil 
exiiccted  with  palpitating  agit  irio;i.  ~Mv.  T.yon  was  seated  in 
his  study,  looking  liaggard  and  already  aged  from  a  slee])less 
night.  \K'  was  so  afraid  lest  his  cnioiion  should  dc]irive  him 
of  tlie  jiresenco  of  mind  necessary  to  the  die,'  attention  to  p;ir- 
tieulars  in  the  coming  inte;-vie\v.  that  he  continued  to  occupy 
his  siu'lit  and  touch  with  the  olijects  which  ha-T  stirred  the 
depths,  not  oidy  of  memory,  bat  of  dread.  ( >nce  again  lie 
unlor'k"d  a  small  liox  whieh  s'e.oil  beside  his  desk.  oVid  tnnk 
from  it  a  little  oval  loeket.  and  ef)ii;i;ared  this  with  nue  wlii  -h 
hung  with  the  seals  on.  the  smmv  gold  cdiain.  There  w:is  tlie 
same  device  in  enamel  on  the  b:iek  of  both  :  clasjiei]  hands 
surroundeil  with  blue  tlowei's.  Petli  had  round  tic  face  a 
name  in  irold  italics  on  a  blue  ''round:  the  name  on  tlie  locket 


1 08  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  EADICAL. 

taken  from  tlie  drawer  was  Maurice  ;  the  name  on  the  locket 
which  hung  with  the  seals  was  Annette,  and  within  the  circle 
of  this  name  there  was  a  lover's  knot  of  light-brown  hair, 
which  matched  a  curl  that  lay  in  the  box.  The  hair  in  the 
locket  which  bore  the  name  of  Maurice  was  of  a  very  dark 
brown,  and  before  returning  it  to  the  drawer  ]Mr.  Lyon  noted 
the  color  and  quality  of  this  hair  more  carefully  than  evei-. 
Then  he  recurred  to  the  note-book  :  undoubtedly  there  had 
bf^on  something,  probably  a  third  name,  bcycjnd  the  names 
iMnurlre  CJu'lstlan,  which  had  themselves  been  ruljbed  and 
slightly  smeared  as  if  by  accident ;  and  from  the  very  first 
examination  in  the  vestry,  Mr.  Lyon  could  not  j^revent  him- 
self from  transferring  the  mental  irnagt;  of  tin:-  third  name  in 
faint  lines  to  the  rubbed  leather.  The  leaves  of  the  note-book 
sec  med  to  have  been  recently  inserted  ;  they  w<'re  of  fresh 
white  ])a})er,  and  ordy  bor*;  some  abbreviations  in  pencil  with 
a  notation  of  small  sums.  Xothing  could  1)e  gathered  from 
the  comparison  of  the  writing  in  the  bo(d^  with  that  of  tln^ 
yellow  letters  which  lay  in  the  box  :  the  smear<'d  name  had 
been  carefully  printed,  and  so  Ijore  no  resrunblance  to  the 
signature  of  those  letters  ;  and  the  pencil  abljrtjviations  and 
figurf'S  had  been  made  too  hurriedly  to  bear  any  decisive  wit- 
ness. '•  T  will  ask  him  t(j  write  —  to  wi'ite  a  descri])tion  of 
the  lofket."  had  been  one  of  ^Iw  Lyon's  thoughts;  but  he 
faltf!-(d  in  that  intentioii.  His  power  of  fulfilling  it  must 
dcjicnd  on  wliat  he  saw  in  this  visitoi',  of  whose  conung  he 
had  a  horrible  di'ead,  at  the  very  timi'  he  Avas  writing  to 
(hniiand  it.  In  that  dcrnand  ho  was  ctlx'ving  the  v(!i''(' of  his 
i-iirid  fonsficncf,  which  had  U'.'ver  left  him  [)erfectly  at  :-f.-t 
Uii'ler  his  on<'  act  of  dec(^|)tion  thf  conci'alnieni  from  Esther 
that  he  Avas  not  her  natural  father,  the  asserti(jn  of  a  I'alse 
claim  uiion  hei-.  '-'Let  niy  path  be  hencfdVu'th  sini})le,"  he 
had  said  to  hinr<ell'  in  the  anguish  of  that  night;  'Met  me 
seek  to  know  what  is,  and  if  pos.-ibh'  to  deeLire  it."'  If  he 
Ava.s  really  goini';  to  find  himself  face  to  faee  Avith  the  man 
\\\\()  had  fjecn  .\nnettc's  husband,  and  who  was  Esther's  father 
—  if  that  wanih-rin.r  of  liis  from  the  light  had  Ijrought  the 
punishment  oi'  a  blind   sacrilege  as   the   issue   of  a  C(jnsei()ns 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  169 

fcransgression,  —  lie  prayed  that  he  might  be  able  to  accept 
all  consequences  of  pain  to  himself.  Buu  ht;  saw  other  possi- 
bilities concerning  the  claimant  of  the  book  and  chain.  Plis 
ignorance  and  suspicions  as  to  the  histoiy  and  character  of 
Annette's  husband  made  it  credible  that  h(^  had  laid  a  plan 
for  convincing  her  of  his  death  as  a.  means  of  freeing  himself 
from  a  burthensome  tie  ;  but  it  seemed  equally  probable  that 
he  was  really  dead,  and  that  tliese  articles  of  property  had 
ijeen  a  becpicst,  or  a  payment,  or  even  a  sale,  to  their  present 
(twner.  Indeed,  in  all  tliese  years  there  was  no  knowing  into 
how  many  hands  such  pretty  trifles  might  have  passed.  Aud 
the  claimant  might,  after  all,  have  no  connection  with  the 
Debarrys  ;  he  might  not  come  on  this  day  or  the  next.  There 
might  be  more  time  left  for  reflection  and  prayer. 

All  these  possibilities,  which  would  remove  the  pressing 
need  fur  diiiicult  action,  ]Mr.  Lyon  represented  to  himself, 
but  he  had  no  effective  belief  in  them  ;  his  belief  went  with  his 
strongest  feeling,  and  in  these  moments  his  strongest  feeling 
was  dread.  lie  trendtled  under  the  weight  that  seemed  already 
added  to  his  own  sin;  he  felt  himself  already  confronted  by 
Annette's  liusband  and  Estlier's  father.  Perhaps  the  father 
was  a  gentleman  on  a  visit  to  tlu;  Debarrys.  There  was  no 
hindering  the  pang  with  which  the  old  man  said  to  himself  — 

''  Tlie  child  will  not  be  sorry  to  leave  this  poor  home,  and  I 
shall  be  guilty  in  her  sight." 

He  was  v.-alking  about  among  thi^  rows  of  books  when  there 
came  a  loud  rap  at  the  outer  door.  The  i-ip  sliook  him  so  that 
lie  sank  into  liis  chair,  feeling  almost  powerless.  Lyddy  pre- 
seiited  luu'self. 

'•Ibu'e's  ever  such  a  fine  man  fi'om  the  'Manor  wants  to  see 
•ou.  sir.  Dear  heart,  dear  heart  1  shall  1  tell  him  you 're  too 
^..d  to  S(M'  him  ?  '' 

'•  Shdw  liiin  u}t."  said  "^^l•.  Lyon,  'iiaking  an  elTort  to  rnlly. 
When  C'liiisiian  a[)|)eared.  the  minister  half  vom\  leaning  on 
an  arm  ol  his  eliair.  and  said.  ■•  !;••  seated,  sir,"  seeing  U(»thiiig 
l)Ut  that  a  tall  man  wjis  enh-riii;^', 

'■  I  "ve  brought  you  a  letter  from  AFr.  Debari'v."'  sai.i  (  drris- 
tian,   in   an    offhand    ma.nn.er      'i'liis    rusty   iiLLie   man,   iu   his 


170  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

dismal  chamber,  seemed  to  the  Ulysses  of  the  steward's  room  a 
pitiable  sort  of  human  curiosity,  to  wliom  a  mau  of  the  world 
would  spealc  rather  loudl}",  in  acconnuodation  to  an  eccentricity 
which  was  likely  to  be  accompanied  with  deafness.  One  can- 
not be  eminent  in  everytliing  ;  and  if  IMr.  Christian  had  dis- 
persed ids  faculties  in  stud}'  tliat  would  have  enabled  him 
to  share  unconventional  points  (jf  view,  ho  miyht  have  vv'oru  a 
mistaken  kind  of  boot,  and  been  less  competent  to  win  at 
ecarte,  or  at  betting,  or  in  any  other  contest  suitable  to  a  per- 
son of  hgure. 

As  he  seated  lumself,  ^Iv.  'Lyon  opened  the  letter,  and  held 
it  close  to  his  eyes,  so  that  his  face  was  hidden.  l>ut  at  the 
word  "  servant  *'  he  could  not  avoid  starting,  and  looking  off 
the  letter  towards  tlie  birarer.  Christian,  knowing  Vvduit  was  in 
the  letter,  conjectured  tliut  the  old  man  was  amazed  to  learn 
tliat  so  distinguished-looking  a  personage  was  a  servant;  he 
leaned  forwiird  with  his  elbows  on  his  knees,  balanced  his 
cane  on  his  fingers,  and  b-egan  a  whispering  whistle.  The 
minister  cheeked  himself,  iinishing  the  reading  of  the  letter, 
and  tlien  slowly  and  nervously  }mt  on  his  s})ectacles  to  survey 
tills  man,  between  whose  fate  and  his  own  there  nuglit  be  a 
terril>le  coliisiun.  The  vrord  ''-'servant"'  had  been  a  fresh  cau- 
tion to  him.  He  must  do  noflilng  rashly.  Esther's  lot  was 
deeply  concerned. 

"ib'i'C  is  tlie  seal  mentioned  in  the  letter,"  saiil  CIn'istian. 

i\Ir.  Ijyon  CixKiW  tiie  i)Oi'lc(*t-boi)k  ii'om  his  df.sk.  and  after 
co;i.])arii:'4  t'ne  .-^"ai  villi  the'  inqiression.  said,  •■  It  is  right,  sir: 
1  dfli\er  the-  ])wek:'t-]juuk  to  you." 

He  held  it  out  witli  the  .-eal,  and  Christian  rose  to  take  them, 
saying,  carelessly,  •■'  Tiu;  otlier  things  —  the  chain  and  the  little 
bo(;k  — are  mine." 

'■'  Y'uur  name  then  is  —  " 

''  Abiurlce  Christian."' 

A  spasm  siiot  tlii-uugh  ^\x.  Lyon.  It  had  seemed  possiltle 
tliat  lie  mi'^-ht  hear  anntieT  ikidi",  and  In;  freed  iVoni  tli"  worsr^ 
hdioL  his  jitixirty.  His  m-.\t  words  v/ere  not  wisely  chosen, 
but  eseaj'KMl  liim  iniMii -i v.'iy. 

"And  y(JU  have  no  otee-  '' 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  171 

"What  do  you  mean?"  said  Christian,  sliarply. 

"  l!o  so  good  as  to  reseat  yourself." 

Christian  did  not  comply.  '■  I  'ni  rather  in  a  hurry,  sir,"  he 
said,  recovering  his  coolness,  "  If  it  suits  you  to  restore  to 
me  those  small  articles  of  mine,  I  shall  be  glad ;  but  I  wouhl 
rather  leave  them  behind  than  be  detained.''  lie  had  reflected 
that  the  minister  "was  simply  a  })unctilious  old  bore.  The 
question  meant  nothing  else.  But  ^Nlr.  Lyon  had  wrought 
himself  up  to  the  task  of  hiiding  out,  then  and  thei'e,  if  })0ssible, 
whether  or  not  tliis  were  Annette's  husband.  How  could  he 
lay  himself  and  his  sin  before  God  if  he  wilfully  declined  to 
leavn  the  truth  ? 

^•'Xay,  sir,  I  will  not  detain  you  unreasonaldy,"  he  said,  in  a 
firmer  tone  than  before.  '".How  long  have  these  articles  been 
your  })roperty  V  " 

''  Oh,  for  more  than  twenty  years,"  said  Christian,  care- 
lessly. 

He  was  not  altogether  easy  under  the  minister's  persistence, 
but  for  tli;it  veiy  reason  he  showed  no  more  impatience. 

"You  have  been  in  France  and  in  Germany  '.' '' 

"I  have  ]>een  iu  most  countries  on  the  Continent." 

"Be  so  good  as  t(»  write  me  your  name."'  said  ^fr.  Lyon, 
dipping  a  pen  in  the  inh,  and  holding  it  out  with  a  piece  of 
pa])er. 

Christian  v,^^s  nnich  surjuased,  but  not  now  greatly  alarmed. 
In  his  vapid  eonjoctin'cs  as  to  tlic  ex]»lan;iti(>n  of  tlio  minister's 
curiosity,  he  had  alighted  on  one  which  might  carry  advan- 
tage rather  thaai  iuconvenience.  l'>ut  he  was  not  going  to 
commit  hims(dF. 

"Pxdoi'e  T  ol)lige  you  there,  sir."  he  said,  laying  down  th(^ 
pen,  and  lnoking  straight  at  Mr.  Lvon,  •'■  [  must  know  exactly 
the  reasojis  yen  liave  fur  imtting  tliese  (juestions  to  me.  A'nu 
ai-e  a  stran'_:i'i-  to  me  —  an  exeell-nt  person,  T  dart'  say — but  \ 
have  no  concern  about  you  i'artbrr  than  to  get  i'rom  you  tliose 
small  articles.  Do  \  nw  still  doulit  ihat  they  are  mine  ?  ^'ou 
wished,  T  think,  thai  !  sliould  tell  you  wliat  the  locket  is  like. 
It.  lias  a  iiair  of  liand---  and  bhie  iiowers  on  one  side  and  i  li"  name 
A.nnette  round  the  hair  on  riie  other  side.     That  is  all  1   have 


172  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

to  say.  If  you  wisli  for  anything  more  from  me,  you  will  be 
good  onough  to  tell  me  why  you  wish  it.  Now  theu,  sir,  what 
is  your  concern  with  me  ?  " 

The  cool  stare,  the  hard  challenging  voice,  witli  which  these 
words  were  uttered,  made  them  fall  like  the  Ideating  cutting 
chill  of  heavy  hail  on  3Ir.  Lyon.  He  saidc  Ijack  in  his  chair 
in  utter  irrfsolutioji  and  helplessiu/ss.  How  was  it  possible 
to  lay  bare  the  sad  and  sacred  past  in  answer  to  such  a  call  as 
this  Y  The  dread  with  which  he  had  thought  of  this  man's 
coming,  the  strongly  confirmed  suspicion  tliat  he  was  really 
xVnnette's  husband,  intensified  the  antijiathy  created  Ity  his 
gestures  and  glances.  The  sensitive  litth,-  minister  knew  in- 
stinctively that  words  which  wouhl  cost  lum  efforts  as  painful 
as  the  oljedicnt  footsteps  of  a  wounded  bleeding  hound  that  wills 
a  foreseen  tliroc,  would  fall  on  this  nuui  as  tln^  pressui-e  of  ten- 
der hngers  falls  on  a  ]jraz(.^n  ghjve.  And  Esther  —  if  this  man 
was  her  fatlicr  —  evt^ry  additional  woi'd  miglit  lielp  to  bring 
down  irrevocable,  jterliaps  cruel,  consequences  on  her.  A 
thick  mist  seemed  to  Iiave  fallen  where  ]\Ir.  Lyon  was  looking 
for  tin;  track  oC  duty  :  the  dilHcult  question,  liow  far  he  was 
to  care  for  consequences  in  seeking  and  avowing  the  tri;th. 
seemed  anev/  obscured.  All  these  things,  like  tlie  vision  of  a 
coming  calamitv.  wei'(,'  compressed  into  a  moment  of  cruiscious- 
ness.  Xothiiic,^  could  Ije  done  to-day  ;  everytliing  nmst  be 
deferred.     lb'  answered  ('liristian  in  a  low  a])ologetic  tone. 

''  I1  is  true,  sir;  von  liave  told  me  all  I  can  demand.  I  have 
n(j  sullieieiit  iv.'ison  fur  detaining  your  pT'opeily  fmlhcr."' 

He  liaiidfi]  the  nnte-briok  and  cliain  to  Cliri-tian.  who  had 
beeii  oli-evviii'j-  him  iiai-rowly.  and  iiov,' said,  hi  a  tdiie  id'  indif- 
ffl'eiiee.    ;is    ln'    ]ifickcti'd    1lie    ai'tielcs  — 

<:•  \'i'i-\   '^HKiil.  si]-.      1  wisli  you  a  '^-(lod  nioiaiiiig."' 

'•(looil  iiioi'iiiim.""  said  Mr.  Lynn,  feelinu''.  v.  Idle  the  door 
closed  Ij'diiiid  Ids  'jiiesi.  tliat  ndxtiiri'  fjf  uneasiness  and  relief 
which  all  ])i'oer;i-t  iii;it  inn  (if  dillieidiy  jiroduees  in  minds  ca- 
llable of  sti'oii'j-  foi-i-e;(<t.  'I'he  wairl;  \v;is  still  to  i)e  done.  lb'. 
had  still  l)idVi]'(!  him  the  task  (d'  Irai'inng  evei'A-thinu'  that 
fonld  be  learni.'d  about  tliis  maids  rtdatiou  to  himself  and 
ii.-^ther. 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  178 

Christian,  as  he  made  his  way  back  along  Malthouse  Lane, 
was  thinking,  "This  old  fellow  has  got  some  secret  in  his 
head.  It 's  not  likely  he  can  know  anything  about  me :  it 
must  be  about  Byclilfe.  But  Bycliife  was  a  gentleman :  how 
should  he  ever  have  had  anything  to  do  with  such  a  aeedy  old 
ranter  as  that  ?  " 


CHAPTER  XV. 

And  doubt  shall  be  as  lead  upou  the  feet 
Of  thy  most  anxious  will. 

Mr.  Lyox  was  careful  to  look  in  at  Felix  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible after  Christian's  departure,  to  tell  him  that  his  trust  was 
discharged.  During  the  rest  of  the  day  he  was  somewliat  re- 
lie  vlhI  from  agitaliug  reflrctions  by  the  necessity  of  attending 
to  liis  ministerial  duties,  the  rebuke  of  rebellious  singers  being 
one  of  tlirni;  and  on  his  return  fi'oiu  the  Momlay  evening 
prayer-meeting  lie  was  so  ovt'rcome  with  weariness  that  he 
went  to  Ijed  without  taking  note  of  any  objects  in  his  study. 
l')ut  when  he  rose  the  next  morning,  his  mind,  once  mort^ 
eagerly  active,  w.as  ari-cstcd  by  Philip  Debarry's  letter,  whicli 
still  lay  open  on  liis  desk,  and  was  arrested  by  precisely  that 
portion  wliich  had  lieen  uidiecded  tlu;  day  Itefoi-e  :  — 

■'  I  shall  consider  inysclf  doubly  forfunnto  if  at  any  time  you  can 
]-'Oiiit  out  to  inc  some  method  liy  whicli  I  may  ]>rociiri'  you  as  lively 
■'-  satisfaction  as  1  am  iio\v  feeling,  in  that  full  and  s]>eedy  relief  from 
iiiixiety  which  1  owe  to  your  considerate  conduct." 

To  undcrstaiul  how  these  words  could  carry  the  suggestion 
they  actually  had  for  the  niini>tei-  in  n,  orisis  of  ])eculi;ir  pt-r- 
soual  anxiety  and  struggle,  we  must  bear  in  mind  that  for 
many  visu's  he  had  walked  throuu'h  life  with  the  sen<i'  of 
having  for  a  space  been  unfaithful  to  wdiat  hv  estiMUued  the 
liiL;"hi'st  trust  e'ver  eoniniitted  to  luan — the  ministerial  voca- 
tion.     In  a  mind  of  any  nohleurss.  a  lapse  into  transgression 


174  FELIX   IIOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

against  an  object  still  regarded  as  supreme,  issues  in  a  new 
and  purer  devotedness,  chastised  by  humility  and  watched 
over  by  a  passionate  regret.  So  it  was  with  that  ardent  spirit 
which  animated  the  little  body  of  llufus  Lyon.  Once  in  his 
life  he  had  been  blinded,  deafened,  hurried  along  by  rebellious 
impulse ;  he  had  gone  astray  after  his  o^vn  desires,  and  had 
let  the  fire  die  out  on  the  altar  ;  and  as  the  true  penitent, 
hating  his  self-besotted  error,  asks  from  all  coming  life  duty 
instead  of  joy,  and  service  instead  of  ease,  so  liufus  was  per- 
petually on  the  watch  lest  he  should  ever  again  postpone  to 
some  })rivate  aft'ection  a  gre;it  public  opportunity  which  to 
him  was  e(|uivalent  to  a  (Command. 

Now  here  was  an  opportunity  brought  by  a  combination  of 
that  unexpected  luciilculable  kind  which  miglit  be  regarded 
as  the  Divine  em})hasis  involving  ('S})ecial  attention  to  trivial 
ev(;nts — an  op})Oi'tiuiity  of  securing  what  Kufus  Lyon  luid 
often  wished  for  as  a  means  of  honoring  truth,  and  exhibiting 
error  in  the  character  of  a  stammering,  halting,  short-brea,tiied 
usurper  of  oifice,  and  dignity.  What  was  more  exasperating 
to  a  z(^ah)us  preaclier,  with  whom  coitions  spt^ech  was  not  a 
difliculty  but  a  relied'  —  wiu)  never  laclci^d  argument,  but  only 
coniliiitaids  and  listenei-s  —  tlian  to  rctlc^ct  that  tliere  wcm'O 
thousands  on  tliousands  o!'  pidjiils  in  tliis  kingdom,  sui)i)lied 
with  liaudsonic  sounding-boanks,  and  (iccupying  an  advanta- 
g('()us  jiosition  in  buildings  i'ar  larg'T  flian  tlu^  chapel  in  Malt- 
liuusc  \'ai-d — buikrnigs  sure  to  be  places  oi'  resort,  cn^en  as 
fill'  mark'els  were,  if  only  froju  liakit  and,  interest;  and  that 
these  pulpits  v'ere  {IIIimI,  or  rather  made  va(-uous,  by  nuui 
v/he'Se  pri\dleged  (>du('a,i;ion  in  the  anciei;t  centiH^s  of  instruc- 
tion issued  in  twenty  minutes'  foriual  reading  of  te])id  exhor- 
tatinii  ())•  ]ii-()bably  infnaii  <leducl;ons  fi'om  ])remises  ]):;sed  on 
rotten  seatfolding  ?  And  it  is  in  the  nal-uro  of  exasp(!ration 
gradu.ally  to  cr)uc(Mi1i'a1e  its(di'.  'Vh*'  sincere  autijiatliy  of  a 
ilog  lowai'ds  cals  in  geueral,  nec(>^'sarily  takes  the  foi'm  of 
indignant  bai-]<ing  at  1lie  neighbor's  l)kack  cat  which  makes 
daily  tres])ass  ;  the  bark'  at  imagiiM'd  c;its,  thougii  a  frequent 
exercise  oi'  the  caidne  nnnd,  is  yet  coinparati vely  fe(>ble.  jVlr, 
Lyon's  sarcasm  was  not  without  iin  edge  when  he  dilated  in 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  175 

general  on  an  elnborate  education  for  teachers  whicli  issued 

ill  tlio  niiuiniuiii  of  teaching,  hut  it  found  a  whetstone  in  the 
particuhir  exaiuplo  of  that  bad  system  knovvMi  as  the  Hector  of 
Treby  a\higiia.  There  was  nothing  jiositive  to  be  said  against 
the  Rev.  Augustus  Debarry  ;  liis  life  coahi  not  be  pronounced 
blaniewortliy  except  for  its  negatives.  And  tlie  good  Kufus 
was  too  })ure-minded  not  to  be  glad  of  tiiat.  He  had  no  de- 
light ill  vice  as  discrediting  wicked  oi)])oneuts :  he  shrank 
from  dwelling  on  tlie  images  of  cruelty  or  of  grossness,  and 
liis  indignation  was  habitually  ius})ired  only  by  those  moral 
and  intellectual  mistakes  which  darken  the  soul  but  do  not 
injure  or  degrade  the  temple  of  the  body.  If  the  Rector  had 
been  a  less  respectable  man,  Rufus  would  have  more  reluc- 
tantly made  him  an  object  of  antagonism  ;  but  as  an  incarna- 
tion of  soul-destroying  error,  dissociated  from  those  baser  sins 
which  have  no  good  repute  even  with  the  worldly,  it  would  be 
an  argumentative  luxury  to  got  into  close  quarters  with  him, 
and  light  with  a  dialectic  short-sword  in  the  eyt>s  of  the  Treby 
world  (sending  also  a  wriftni  account  thereof  to  the  chief 
organs  of  Dissenting  opinion).  "S'ice  was  essentially  stupid 
—  a  (leaf  and  eyeless  monster,  insuscejiiibh'  to  (liuiionstration  : 
tlie  Spirit  might  v.'ork  on  it  by  unseiMi  \v:iys,  and  llie  unstudied 
sallies  of  sermons  were  often  as  tlie  arrows  wiiich  pierced  and 
awakened  tlie  brutified  eoiiseiimce  ;  l)ut  i' liiiniiiated  tiiought, 
finely  dividing  sp(>(M'h,  wea'c  the  choicer  we;^|)()::s  of  the  l)i\'iiie 
armoiy,  Avliich  whoso  could  wield  must  Ijc  careful  nut  to  leave 
idle. 

Here,  then,  was  the  longed-for  o]»portu;iit;\'.  Kere  was  an 
engagement-  an  ex[)res-aoii  of  ;i  streae;  wisli  —  on  the  pai't  of 
Philip  DelKirry.  if  it  were  in  his  ])ower.  to  jerocure  a.  satisl'ac- 
tion  to  Ivnfus  fjyon.  How  had  Mial  man  of  (iod  and  exem- 
]ilaTy  Indej-.endenf  minister,  V. : .  A  i;;sworlh,  of  p(n-s('Cu1ed 
sanctity,  conducted  liimself  Wiien  :i  sinii];ir  occasion  laid  l)e- 
falhm  him  at  Ani^ferdani  ?  \\r  ii.el  tlauight  t^i'  notliing  but 
the  ghny  of  tlie  highest  cause,  anii  liad  converted  the  oifer  of 
reco]n])ens(^  into  a  }>ub]ic  d.ebate  wi;h  a  Jew  on  the  (diiid'  mys- 
teries of  tlie  faith.  Here  was  a  model  :  the  case  w.is  nothing 
short  of   a  heavenly   indication,   and   he,   Rufus   Lycm,   would 


iHi)  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

seize  the  occasion  to  demand  a  public  debate  with  the  Rector 
on  the  Constitution  of  the  true  Church. 

What  if  he  were  inwardly  torn  by  doubt  and  anxiety  con- 
cerning his  own  private  relations  and  the  facts  of  his  past 
life  ?  That  danger  of  absorption  within  the  narrow  bounds  of 
self  only  urged  him  the  more  towards  action  which  had  a 
wider  bearing,  and  might  tell  on  the  welfare  of  England  at 
large.  It  was  decided.  Before  the  minister  went  down  to 
his  breakfast  that  morning  he  had  written  the  following  letter 
to  Mr.  Philip  Debarry  :  — 

Sir,  —  Referring  to  your  letter  of  j-esterday,  I  find  the  following 
words:  "  I  shall  consider  myself  doubly  fortunate  it  at  any  time  you 
can  point  out  to  me  some  method  by  v.-hich  I  may  procure  you  as 
lively  a  satisfaction  as  I  am  now  feeling,  in  that  full  and  speedy  relief 
fi'om  anxiety  which  I  owe  to  your  considerate  conduct."' 

I  am  not  unaware,  sir,  that,  in  the  usage  of  the  world,  there  are 
words  of  courtesy  (so  called)  wliich  are  understood,  by  those  amongst 
whom  they  are  current,  to  have  no  precise  meaning,  and  to  constitute 
no  bond  or  obligation.  I  will  not  now  insist  that  this  is  an  abuse  of 
language,  wherein  our  fallible  nature  requires  the  strictest  safeguards 
against  laxity  and  misapplication,  for  I  do  not  apprehend  that  in  writ- 
ing the  words  I  have  above  quoted,  you  were  open  to  the  I'epi'oach  of 
usinrr  phrases  which,  while  seeming  to  carry  a  specific  meaninij.  were 
really  no  more  than  wliat  is  called  a  polite  form.  1  believe,  sir.  that 
you  used  these  words  advisedly,  sincerely,  and  with  an  honora])le  in- 
tention of  acting  on  them  as  a  pledge,  should  such  action  be  demanded. 
Xo  other  supposition  on  my  part  would  corresjiond  to  the  character 
you  bear  as  a  young  man  who  aspires  (albeit  mistakenly)  to  engrab 
the  tincst  fruiis  of  public  virtue  on  a  creed  and  institutions,  whereoi 
the  :^ap  is  composed  rather  of  human  self-seeking  than  of  everlasting 
truth 

^\'he!■^■fnl-l■  T  act  on  this  my  belief  in  the  inteo^rify  of  your  writtc!! 
word;  and  I  lieo-  you  to  ]irocure  for  Tiie  (as  it  is  doubtless  in  youi' 
powei' )  that  I  may  he  allowed  a  public  discussion  with  your  near  rela- 
tive, the  IkHcior  of  this  jiarish,  the  Reverend  Augustus  Debarry,  to  be 
iield  in  the.  hirire  room  i>f  the  Free  School,  or  in  the  Assembly  Room 
of  the  Mcirquis  of  (iranby,  these  beiniij  the  largest  covered  spaces  at 
our  couunand.  I-'or  I  presume  he  would  neither  allow  me  to  speak 
v.ithin  his  church,  noi-  wouhl  con>eHt  himself  to  speak  witliin  my 
chapel;  and  the  probable  ini'lemency  of  tlie   appivjaching  season  for- 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  177 

bids  an  .issured  expectation  that  we  could  discourse  in  the  open  air. 

The  subjects  1  desire  to  discuss  are,  —  first,  tlie  Constitution  of  the 

true  Church;   and,  secondly,  the  bearing   ther(>upon  of  the   English 

Reformation.     Confidently  expecting  that  you  will  comply  with  this 

request,  wiiich  is  the  sequence  of  your  expressed  desire,  i  remain,  sir, 

\ours,  with  the  respect  offered  to  a  sincere  withstander, 

RuFus  Lyon. 
Maltuouse  Yard. 

After  Avriting  this  letter,  the  good  Rufus  felt  that  serenity 
and  elevation  of  mind  which  is  infallibly  brought  by  a  preoC' 
cupation  witli  the  wider  relations  of  things.  Already  he  was 
beginning  to  sketch  the  course  his  iirguuieut  might  most  judi- 
ciously take  in  the  coming  debate ;  his  thoughts  were  running 
into  sentences,  and  nuirkiug  off  careful  exceptions  in  [)arenthe 
sis  ;  and  he  had  conn;  down  and  seated  himself  at  the  breakfast- 
table  quite  automatically,  wdthout  expectation  of  toast  or 
coffee,  when  Esther's  voice  and  touch  recalled  him  to  an  in- 
ward debate  of  another  kind,  in  which  he  felt  himself  much 
weaker.  Again  there  arose  before  him  the  image  of  that  cool, 
liard-eyed,  worldly  man.  who  might  be  this  dear  cliild's  father, 
and  one  against  whose  riglits  he  had  liimself  grievously  of- 
fended. Always  as  the  imagt^  recurred  to  him  ^h\  Lyon's 
heart  sent  forth  a  jirnyer  for  guidance,  but  no  definite  guidance 
liad  yet  made  itself  visilih^  f(tr  him.  Tt  could  not  be  guidance 
—  it  was  a  temptation  —  that  said.  '•  T>et  the  matter  rest:  seidv 
to  knov.-  no  mor<^  ;  know  only  what  is  thrust  u])on  you."  The 
nnncmbrance  that  in  his  time  of  wandering  he  had  wilfully 
remained  in  ignorance  of  facts  whiidi  he  miglit  have  inqudiM^d 
after,  dee[)ened  the  im])ression  that  it  was  now  an  inijierative 
duty  to  si-r'k  the  fullest  attainable  knowh'dLre.  .Vnd  the  in- 
quiiy  might  possibly  issue  in  a  bl('SS(Hl  rt^pose.  by  ])u'Gtin'_r  a, 
negative  on  all  his  suspicions.  T-ut  the  more  vividly  all  tiv 
circumstances  became  ])i'esent  bi  liini,  the  more  nntit  hi-  felt 
himself  to  s(>t  about  aiiv  invi'<ti'.ratiitn  concerning  this  man 
who  called  liims(df  Maurice  Christian,  lie  could  seek  no  con- 
lidant  or  helper  among  •■the  l)i-et]iren ; '*  he  was  obliged  to 
admit  to  liimself  that  the  nuMidiers  of  his  (duirch.  wiib  ^'  heini 
he  li.-'v.ed   t"  go  to  lieaven,  weie    nut    easy  to  converse  with  on 

VOL.    III.  12 


178  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

earth  touching  the  deeper  secrets  of  his  experience,  and  were 
still  h-'ss  able  to  advise  him  as  to  the  wisest  procedure,  in  a 
case  of  high  delicacy,  with  a  worldling  who  had  a  carefully 
trimmed  whisker  and  a  fashionable  cnstume.  For  the  first 
time  in  his  life  it  occurred  to  the  minister  that  he  should  be 
glad  of  an  adviser  who  had  more  worldly  than  spiritual  exj)e- 
ricnce,  and  that  it  might  not  be  inconsistent  with  his  priiici- 
p]es  to  seek  some  light  from  one  who  had  studied  human  law. 
But  it  was  a  thought  to  be  paused  urioii.  and  not  followed  out 
rashly ;  some  other  guidance  miglit  intervene. 

Esther  noticed  tliat  lier  father  was  in  a  fit  of  abstraction, 
that  he  seemed  to  swallow  his  coffee  iind  toast  quite  uncon- 
sciously, and  that  he  vented  from  time  to  time  a  ](.iw  guttural 
interjection,  which  was  habittial  with  him  when  he  was  ab- 
soi'Vx'd  by  an  inward  discussion.  She  did  not  disturb  liim  by 
rf-mai-hs.  and  oidy  wondered  whether  anything  unusual  had 
occnri'ed  on  Sunday  evenin;.;'.  ISnt  at  last  she  thought  it 
Tieedlul  to  say,  "  You  recollect  what  I  told  you  yesterday, 
father  ?  ■■'■ 

"  Nay,  child  ;  what  ?  "  said  ^Mr.  Lyon,  rousing  himself. 

"That  Mr.  Jerm}-n  asked  me  if  yott  would  probably  boat 
home  this  morning  befoi'e  one  o'clock.'' 

Esther  was  stirjiriscd  to  see  hej'  father  start  and  change 
color  as  if  he  had  been  shaken  by  some  sufhlen  collision  liefore 
he  answei'eil  — 

'•  A>-ui-edlv  ;  T  do  not  inteiid  tr.  move  from  my  study  after 
I  have  onee  been  out  to  ,e:ive  this  letter  to  Zacliai'v.'' 

'•Shall  f  tell  Lyd'ly  to  take  him  up  at  imee  to  your  study  if 
he  coini'- ?  If  not.  r  shall  have  to  stay  in  my  own  room.  l)e- 
ranse  1  shall  be  ut  home  all  this  moTaiing.  and  it  is  rather  cold 
now  1  o  sit  wit  hout  a  hi'i'." 

'•  "\'i'S.  my  di'ar.  ht  him  cone  uo  to  me  ;  uidess.  indeed,  he 
should  liT'ln;^'  a  seconil  jier^iai.  which  might  happen,  seejn:^'  that 
in  .all  likelihood  he  is  comiu'^'.  ;is  liitliei'to.  <  n  electioneering 
business.  And  1  could  not  well  accommodate  two  visitors 
no-stairs." 

"'."/hile  iMi'.  Lyon  went  out  tci  Zacharv.  the  ])ew-o})ener.  to 
giv-,.  him  a  second  tmie  the  commission  of  carrying  a  letter  to 


FELIX  HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  179 

Treby  IVIanor,  Estlier  gave  her  injunction  to  Lyddy  that  if  one 
gentleman  came  he  was  to  be  shown  u[)-stairs  —  if  two,  they 
Aveve  to  be  shown  into  the  parlor.  l)Ut  she  had  to  resolve 
various  questions  before  Lyddy  eleai'ly  saw  what  was  expected 
of  her, — as  that  ''if  it  was  the  gentleman  as  came  on  Thurs- 
day in  tlu'  })('pper-and-sa,lt  coat,  was  he  to  be  shown  up-stairs  ? 
And  the  gmtl'-man  from  th<^  Miiiior  yesterday  as  went  out 
whistling  —  had  ^liss  Esther  heard  about  him  ?  There  seemed 
no  end  of  these  great  folks  coming  to  Malthouse  Yard  since 
there  was  talk  of  the  election  ;  but  they  might  be  poor  lost 
creatures  the  most  of  'em."  Whereupon  Lyddy  shook  her 
head  and  groaned,  under  an  edifying  despair  as  to  the  future 
lot  of  gentlemen  callers. 

Esther  always  avoided  asking  questions  of  Lyddy,  Avho 
found  an  answer  as  slu;  found  a  key,  by  pouring  out  a  pocket- 
ful of  mi5:collanies.  ISut  she  had  remarked  so  nuuiy  indica- 
tions that  something  had  liapptMunl  to  cause  her  father  unusual 
excitt'iin'iit  and  mental  })rc()ccu[Kition,  that  she  could  not  help 
connecting  witli  them  tlie  fact  of  this  visit  from  the  ]Manor, 
which  he  had  not  mentioned  to  h(u\ 

She  sa.t  down  in  the  dull  })a'/lor  and  took  up  her  netting ; 
for  since  Sun(hiy  she  had  felt  unable  to  re;ul  when  she  was 
alone,  being  obliged,  in  spitt^  of  herself,  to  tliink  of  Felix  Holt 
—  to  imagine  what  he  would  like  her  to  be,  and  what  soi't  of 
views  he  took  of  lil'e  so  as  to  make  it  seem  valuable  in  the 
ahsence  of  all  elegance,  luxury,  gayety,  or  romance.  Ibal  he 
yet  retli'cted  that  he  had  bi"]iav(Ml  very  I'udely  to  her  on  Sun 
day  ?  I'erha.ps  not.  rerhaps  he  had  dismissed  hei'  from  lii-- 
mind  with  conleiiijjt.  And  at  that  tliougiit  Esther's  eyes 
smarted  unpleasant  iy.  Slie  was  fond  ol'  netting.  becaus(^  it 
showed  to  advaiita<4-e  l)oth  liei'  liand  and  lun-  foot  ;  and  across 
this  image  of  l-'elix  ib)lt"s  indifieience  and  (vnitem])t  there 
])assed  the  vagu<r  ima'j^e  of  a  possible  somel)ody  who  would 
admire  her  hands  and  feet,  and  delight  in  looking  at  tin  ir 
beantv.  and  loii'.:.  vet  not  dai'c.  to  kiss  them.  T>ife  wouhl  be 
much  ea-'icr  Iti  tlie  jiresenct'  ol  su(di  a  hjve.  Ibit  it  was  ]ire- 
ciselv  tins  longing  after  hei'  own  satisfaction  that  l-"elix  laid 
reproached  her  with.      L>id  he    want  her  to  be  heroic  '.'      That 


180  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

seemed  impossible  without  some  great  occcasion.  Her  life  was 
a  heap  uf  fragments,  and  so  were  her  thoughts  :  some  great 
energy  was  needed  to  bind  them  together.  Esther  was  begin- 
ning to  lose  her  complacency  at  her  own  wit  and  criticism  ;  to 
lose  the  sense  of  superiority  in  an  awakening  need  for  reliance 
on  one  whose  vision  was  wider,  whose  nature  was  purer  and 
stronger  than  her  own.  But  then,  she  said  to  herself,  that 
'■one"  must  be  tender  to  her,  not  rude  and  predominating  in 
his  manners.  A  man  with  any  chivalry  in  him  could  never 
adopt  a  scolding  tone  towards  a  woman  —  that  is,  towards  a 
charming  woman.  But  I'elix  had  no  cliivalry  in  him.  He 
loved  lecturing  and  opinion  t(J0  well  ever  to  love  ai.y  woman. 

In  this  way  Esther  strove  to  see  that  Felix  was  tlujroughl}' 
in  the  wrong  —  at  least,  if  he  did  not  come  again  expressly  to 
show  that  he  was  sorry. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

Trnehlne.     Tlie^e  men  havo  no  voto?.     Why  should  I  court  them? 

Grajifo.r.     No  vote.-;,  Imt  jiowor. 

Truehlur.     What!   over  cliaritics  ' 

Graiifnx.  No,  over  brains  :  wliicli  disturhs  the  canvass.  Tn  a  natural  state 
of  tilings  tlie  uverace  iirice  <'f  a  vole  at  Paddleljrook  is  niiic-aiiil-six-peuce, 
thrM\viiii:  ilic  hfrv-ponmi  renaiits,  wlio  cost  notliini:;,  into  the  divisor.  ]5ul 
these  lalkini;-  men  cause  an  artilicial  rise  of  prices. 

Thk  ox])Of'ted  imjinrtant  knock  at  the  door  came  about 
twelve  o'chick.  and  Esthei-  could  hear  th:;t  th(M'e  were  twf) 
visitors.  Immediately  the  i)arlor  door  was  opened  and  tlie 
sliaggy-liairod,  cravatless  inia.^e  of  Eelix  Holt,  which  was  just 
then  \n\\  in  the,  mirror  of  Esther's  mind,  was  disjdaced  by  the 
highly  contrasted  ajipratanee  nf  a  ])ersonage  whose  name  she 
guessed  bifoi'c  Mr.  Jeianyn  liad  announced  it.  Tlie  perfect 
morning  coslume  of  tliat  day  differed  much  from  our  present 
M'-al  :  it  was  essenitial  that  a  gentleman's  chin  siiould  bi^  well 
^•topped,  that  his  collar  should  have  a   voluminous  roll,  that 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  181 

his  waistcoat  should  imply  much  discrimination,  and  that  his 
buttons  should  be  arranged  in  a  manner  which  would  now  ex^ 
pose  him  to  general  contempt.  And  it  must  not  be  forgotten 
that  at  the  distant  period  when  Treby  Magna  first  knew  the 
excitements  of  an  election,  there  existed  many  other  anomalies 
now  obsolete,  besides  short-waisted  coats  and  broad  stiffeners. 

But  we  have  some  notions  of  beauty  and  fitness  which  with- 
staiul  t!ie  centuries;  and  quite  irrespective  of  dates,  it  would 
be  pronounced  that  at  the  age  of  thirty-four  Harold  Transome 
was  a  sti'iking  and  handsome  man.  He  was  one  of  those  peo- 
])le.  as  Denuer  had  remarked,  to  whose  presence  in  the  room 
you  could  not  be  indifferent :  if  you  do  not  hate  or  dread  them, 
you  must  find  the  touch  of  their  hands,  nay,  their  very  shad- 
ows, a^;reeabl'.'. 

I'lstlu'r  iVlt  a  pleasure  quite  new  to  her  as  she  saw  his  finely 
emb'.'owiied  face  and  full  bright  eyes  turned  towards  her  with 
an  air  of  defei'ence  by  wliich  gallantry  must  commend  itself 
to  a  reiiiH'il  \v(.)man  who  is  not  absolutely  free  from  vanity. 
Harold  'I'rausome  regarded  women  as  slight  things,  but  he  was 
fond  of  slight  things  in  the  intervals  of  business  ;  and  he  held 
it  among  the  eliitd'  ;irts  of  life  to  keep  tliese  pleasant  diversions 
within  such  bounds  that  they  shouhl  never  interfere  with  the 
course  of  his  serious  ambition.  Ksthcr  was  perfectly  aware, 
as  he  took  a  chair  near  her,  that  he  was  under  some  admiring 
suri>rise  at  her  appearance  and  mannei'.  How  could  it  be 
otlierwise  ?  She  believed  tliat  in  the  eyes  of  a  high-bred  man 
no  young  ];idy  in  Treby  could  equal  her:  she  felt  a  glow  of 
delight  at  the  sense  tlui.t  she  was  being  lookcnl  at. 

'■  ^Ty  father  expected  you,"  she  said  to  ^]i:  Jermyn.  '•! 
delivert^d  your  lettcu-  to  him  yesterday.  He  will  be  down 
immediately.'' 

Sh(>  disentangled  her  foot  from  her  netting  and  wound 
it  np. 

'•  1  hope  you  are  not  goini,''  to  let  us  disturb  you,"  said  Har- 
old, notieing  her  ;u'lion.  '•  W'c  e(jiu-'  to  diseuss  election  affairs, 
and  we  ])articu];ii'ly  desire  to  iuter<^st  tlie  ladies." 

••  1  have  no  interest  witli  any  one  who  is  not  alreatly  (ni  the 
right  side,"  said  h^stlier.  siiuling. 


18-  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"I  an:i  happy  to  see  at  least  that  you  wear  the  Liberal 
colors." 

"I  fear  I  must  confess  that  it  is  more  from  love  of  blue  than 
from  love  of  Liberalism.  Yellow  o})i!iions  could  only  have 
brunettes  on  their  side."  Esther  spoke  with  her  usual  pretty 
fluency,  Ijut  she  had  no  sooner  uttered  the  words  than  she 
thought  how  angry  they  would  have  m;ule  Felix. 

''If  my  cause  is  to  be  recommended  by  tlie  becomingness  of 
my  colors,  then  I  am  sure  you  are  acting  in  my  interest  by 
wearing  them." 

Esther  rose  to  leave  the  room. 

"  ]\rust  you  really  go  ?  "  said  Harold,  preparing  to  open  the 
door  for  liur. 

"  Yes  ;  I  have  an  engagement  —  a  lesson  at  half-prist  twelve," 
said  Esther,  bowing  and  floating  out  like  a  Idue-robed  Xaiad, 
but  not  without  a  suffused  blush  as  she  passed  through  the 
dij'jrway. 

It  was  a  pity  the  room  was  so  small,  Harold  Transonic 
thouglit :  this  girl  ought  to  walk  in  a  house  where  there  were 
balls  and  corridors.  l!ut  he  had  soon  dismissed  this  chance 
preoccupation  witli  Esther  ;  for  before  the  door  was  closed 
agaiji  ]\[r.  Lyon  had  entered,  and  Harold  was  entiredy  bent  on 
Wiiat  had  been  the  object  of  his  visit.  The  minister,  though 
no  elector  himself,  laid  consideral.h'  iriflueuce  over  Liberal 
(dectors,  and  it  was  tlie  })art  of  wisdom  in  a  candidate  to 
cciiiriit  all  [)olitieal  adhesion  ])y  a  littli'  ])ersr)nal  regard,  if 
])()ssiljle.  Garstin  Avas  a  harsh  and  wiiy  iV'ildAv;  lie  seemed  to 
suggi'.-t  tiiat  sour  wliey.  wliirli  some  say  wa-^  tlie  oriL;-inal  mean- 
ing of  AN'liig  in  tlie  Scottish,  and  it  might  assist  the  theoi'etie 
a'lvantau'cs  of  ];:i(|iealism  if  it  conld  be  a-sociate(l  with  a  more 
^^eiierons  i)r('s.';ice.  'Wduit  wouM  eoiiciliat e  the  ])erson,al  regard 
fif  f)ld  Ml-.  T>yn!i  liecaine  a  eurious  [■m-ilcm  to  Harold,  now  the 
little  man  iii;nh'  his  a npcaranei'.  l'>'i^  ean\'assing  makes  a  gen- 
tleman aequainti'd  with  many  straii'T"  animals,  togetlier  with 
the  ways  f>f  catching  and  taming  tlnaii  :  and  tluis  the  knowl- 
eilge  of  natural  hist'iry  a^dvances  amongst  the  aristocracy  and 
the  wealthy  commoners  of  our  land. 

"I  am  v«ry  glad  to  have  secured  this  opportunity  of  making 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  183 

your  personal  aoquaint;uic«^,  Mr.  Lyon/'  said  Harold,  putting 
out  liis  hand  to  tlui  minister  when  Jermyn  had  mentioned  his 
name.  "I  am  to  address  the  electors  here,  in  the  Iviarket- 
I'lai-e,  tomoi-row ;  and  I  should  have  been  sorry  to  'lo  so  with- 
out lirst  paying  my  respects  })rivati.iy  to  my  chief  f.''ends,  as 
thi.'re  UMiy  l)e  points  on  which  they  particularly  wish  me  to 
explain  myself.'' 

"■  i'ou  s[)eak  civilly,  sir,  and  reasonably,"  said  ^Iv.  Lyon,  with 
a  vague  short-sighted  gaze,  in  which  a  candidate's  appearance 
(nddently  went  for  notliing.  "  I'ray  be  seated,  gentlemen.  It 
is  my  habit  to  stand.'' 

J  [e  placed  himstdf  at  a  right  angle  with  his  visitors,  his  worn 
look  of  intellectmJ  eagerness,  slight  frame,  and  rusty  attire, 
m;;king  an  otld  contrast  with  their  nourishing  persons,  unblem- 
islR'd  costume,  and  comfortal)lo  freedom  from  excitement.  The 
group  v/as  i'airly  typical  of  the  difference  between  the  men  who 
arc  anim:it('(l  by  ideas  and  the  men  who  are  expected  to  apply 
them.  'Idicii  lie  drew  forth  his  spectacles,  aiid  began  to  rub 
thorn  witlv  tliT'  thin  end  of  his  coat-tail.  He  was  inwardly 
exiTcising  gi-cat  sdf-mast^'i'y  —  su])])ressing  tlu^  thonudit  of  his 
personal  nci  i!s,  wliirh  J(U'm}'n's  ]ires(>nce  tended  tri  sugsj^est, 
in  order  that  he  might  be  ef[ual  tn  the  larger  duties  of  this 
occasion. 

••I  ;im  nware  —  ]\[r.  Jermyn  iias  told  me,"  said  Harold, 
"  wliat  good  s(u-vice  you  have  done  me  already.  -Mr.  Lyon. 
TJie  fact  is,  a.  laan  of  intellect  lik(^  you  was  especially  utH'ded 
in  my  case,  'i'lie  race  1  am  riuiniiig  is  really  against  (Jarstin 
only,  who  cai^s  liimsidf  a  Liberal.  tlio'>;L;-h  h(>  cares  for  not  lung, 
ajid  uiidersiamls  notliing.  excejit  the-  interests  of  tlie  wealtliy 
traders.  .\:i;l  you  have  b-en  ;iiiir  to  exjdain  the  dirferenee 
between  LToeral  and  Liberal,  wliicii.  a.s  yon  aaid  I  know,  is 
something  like  the  difb'rence  ItMlvt^e!)  lish  and  bsli."' 

"Your  coriipao'ison  is  not  unaiit.  sir."'  said  iMr.  Tvvon.  still 
holding  Ins  s])eet,a(des  in  his  hand,  •'at  this  e])och.  wlinn  the 
mind  of  the  nation  has  been  sti'aincid  on  the  ])assing  of  one 
me:isure.  AN'here  a^  u'reat  wei-Iit  has  to  be  nujved.  we  i'e(]uire 
not  so  much  seleeled  instruments  as  abundant  horse-power. 
But  it  is  an  unavoidable  evil   ol    tiiese  massive  achievements 


J  84  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

tliat  they  encourage  a  coarse  undiscriminatingness  obstructive 
of  more  nicely  wrought  results,  and  an  exaggerated  ex})ectation 
inconsistent  with  the  intricacies  of  our  iallen  and  struggling 
condition.  I  say  not  that  compromise  is  unnecessary,  hut  it  is 
an  evil  attendant  on  our  imperfection  ;  and  I  would  pray  every 
one  to  mark  that,  where  compromise  broadens,  intellect  and 
conscience  are  thrust  into  narrower  room.  Wherefore  it  has 
been  my  object  to  show  our  people  that  there  are  many  who 
have  helped  to  draw  the  car  of  Reform,  whose  ends  are  but 
partial,  and  who  forsake  not  the  ungodly  principle  of  selfish 
alliances,  but  would  oidy  substitute  Syria  for  Egypt  —  thinking 
chiefly  of  their  own  share  in  peacocks,  gold,  and  ivory." 

"Just  so,"  said  Harold,  who  was  f|uick  at  new  languages, 
and  still  quicker  at  translating  other  men's  generalities  into 
his  own  special  and  immediate  purposes,  "men  who  will  be 
satisfied  if  they  can  only  Ijring  in  a  plutocracy,  buy  up  the 
land,  and  stick  the  old  crests  on  their  new  gateways.  Xow 
the  practical  point  to  secure  against  these  false  Liberals  at 
j)rr'sr-nt  is.  that  our  electors  should  not  divide  their  votes.  As 
it  ;i]i])(';ii's  that  many  who  vote  for  Debarry  are  likely  to  split 
tlif-ir  votf'S  in  favoi'  of  Garstin.  it  is  of  the  first  consequence 
that  my  voters  should  give  me  plumpers.  If  they  divide  their 
votes  tliey  can't  kcfp  out  Dfbarry,  and  they  may  help  to  keep 
out  me.  I  fed  some  confidence  in  asking  you  to  use  your  in- 
ilueiicc  ill  this  direction,  ]\Ir.  Lyon.  "We  candidates  Lave  to 
jiiaisf  ourselves  moi'e  tlian  is  graceful:  but  you  are  awai'e  tliat. 
wliile  T  belong  Ijy  my  l^irtli  to  the  classes  that  have  their  roots 
in  1i-a']ition  and  all  the  old  loyalties,  my  expei'ienee  has  lain 
chietiy  anion'/  tliose  wlio  make  their  own  career,  asid  depend 
on  tlic  1^^^^\■  ]-ather  than  tlie  old.  1  have  liad  the  advaaitage  of 
con-id:Ting  nati(jnal  ^^•elJ■;u•c  under  vai'ied  lights:  1  have  wider 
views  than  tliose  of  a  nuM'o  cotton  lord.  On  questions  con- 
nected with  reli'/ions  libeity  I  would  sto]»  short  at  n(j  measure 
that  was  not  thorongli." 

'•'T  lio])e  not.  sii'  —  r  ho])f'  not."  said  ^fr.  Lyon,  gravcdy ; 
iinnlly  putting  on  In-  spectacles  and  i-xamining  tlie  face  of  the 
candidate,  whom  lie  wa-  ;a'e]);i]-ing  to  tui'ii  into  a  cateclinmen. 
For  the  good   Jiufus.  consrious  of  his   ]jolitical   inijjoi'tance  as 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  185 

an  organ  of  peiTuasion,  felt  it  his  duty  to  catechise  a  little, 
and  also  to  do  his  part  towards  impressing  a  probable  legislator 
with  a  sense  of  his  responsibility.  I>ut  the  latter  branch,  of 
duty  somewhat  obstructed  the  catechising,  for  his  mind  was  so 
urged  by  considerations  which  he  htdd  in  danger  of  being  over- 
looked, that  the  questions  and  answers  bore  a  very  slender 
pro])ortion  to  his  exposition.  It  was  impossible  to  leave  the 
question  of  chui'ch-rates  without  noting  the  grounds  of  their 
injustice,  and  without  a  brief  enumeration  of  reasons  why  Mr. 
Lyon,  for  his  own  part,  would  not  present  that  passive  resist- 
ance to  a  legal  imposition  which  had  been  adopted  by  the 
Friends  (whose  heroism  in  this  regard  was  nevertheless  worthy 
of  all  honor). 

Comprehensive  talkers  are  apt  to  be  tiresome  when  we  are 
not  athirst  for  information,  but,  to  be  quite  fair,  we  must 
admit  that  superior  reticence  is  a  good  deal  due  to  the  lack  of 
matter.  Speech  is  often  bLirren ;  but  silence  also  does  not  ne- 
cessarily brood  over  a  full  nest.  Your  still  fowl,  blinking  at 
you  without  remark,  may  all  tln'  while  be  sitting  on  one  addled 
nest-egg  ;  and  when  it  takes  to  cacikling,  will  have  nothing  to 
announc(;  b;it  that  addled  d(dusion. 

Harold  Transomt^  was  not  at  all  a  patient  man,  but  in  mat- 
ters of  business  he  was  quite  awake  to  his  cue,  and  in  this  case 
it  was  perhaps  easier  to  listen  than  to  answer  questions.  But 
Jermyn,  who  had  ])lenty  of  work  on  his  hands,  took  an  oppor- 
tunity of  rising,  and  saying,  as  he  looked  at  his  watch  — 

"I  must  reall}'  ho  at  tlu^  olllce  in  live  miiuites.  You  will 
find  me  tluM'e.  Mr.  'I'ransonu^  ;  you  have  probably  still  many 
things  to  say  to  Air.  Lyon."' 

•'I  beseech  you,  sii'.""  said  the  minister,  changing  color,  and 
by  a  quii'k  movement  hiving  liis  hand  on  flerniyn's  arm  —  '•  1 
beseech  you  to  lavor  nie  with  an  interview  on  some  private 
business — -tliis  evening,  if  it  were  ])Ossible." 

Mr.  Lyon,  lik(>  others  who  are  liabitnally  occupi(>d  with  imper- 
sonal subjects,  was  liable  to  this  iiaipulsive  sort  of  action.  He 
snatehed  at  the  details  of  life  as  if  they  were  darting  iia-<t  liim 
—  as  il'  they  were  like  tlie  ribbons  at  his  knees,  whieii  would 
never  be  tied   all  day  if  they   were  not  tied  on  the  instant. 


188  FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL. 

Through  these  spasmodic  leaps  out  of  his  abstractions  into 
real  life,  it  constautly  liappened  that  he  suddenly  took  a  course 
which  had  been  the  subject  of  too  much  doubt  with  him  ever 
to  have  Ijeen  determined  on  by  continuous  thought.  And  if 
Jermyn  had  not  startled  him  by  threatening  to  vanish  just 
when  he  was  plunged  in  politics,  he  might  never  have  made 
up  his  mind  to  conhde  in  a  worldly  attorney. 

('■An  odd  man,"'  as  ^^-Irs.  Muscat  observed,  '-'to  have  such  a 
gift  in  the  pulpit.  Ihit  there  "s  One  knows  better  than  we 
do  —  '"'  which,  in  a  lady  who  rarely  felt  her  judgment  at  a 
loss,  was  a  concession  that  showed  much  piety.) 

Jermyn  was  sur])rised  at  the  little  man's  eagerness.  "By 
all  means,""  he  answered,  quite  cordially.  "'Could  you  come 
to  my  ollice  at  eight  o'clock  ?  " 

''  For  several  reasons.  I  nu;st  beg  you  to  come  to  me." 

"  Oh,  very  good.  I  "11  walk  out  and  see  you  this  evening,  if 
possible.  I  shall  have  much  pleasure  in  b<dng  of  any  use  to 
you."  Jermyn  felt  that  in  the  eyes  of  TIarold  he  was  appear- 
ing all  the  more  valuable  when  his  services  were  thus  in  request. 
He  Avont  out,  and  ^Iv.  Lynn  easily  relapsed  ijito  politics,  for 
he  had  been  on  the  brink  of  a  favorite  subject  on  which  he 
was  at  issue  with  his  fellow-Liberals. 

At  that  time,  wlien  faith  in  the  efficacy  of  political  change 
was  at  fevtT-heat  in  ardent  IvrforniPrs.  many  measures  which 
nvMi  ;in'  still  discussing  with  little  confidence  mi  either  side, 
wer"  th<'n  talked  al)out  and  disposed  of  like  proijcrtv  in  near 
revi'i'sinn.  Crying  aljuscs  —  ''bloated  ]iau])(u-s."  "bloated  plu- 
ralists,''  and  otlier  c<u'rupt ions  hindering  men  from  being  wise 
and  hap])y  —  liad  to  be  fought  against  and  slain.  Such  a  time 
is  a  time  of  linpe.  Afterv/ards.  when  tin;  corpses  of  those 
monsters  have  been  lield  up  to  the  pul^lic  wondor  and  abhor- 
rence, and  yi't  wisdom  and  hat)]iin<'ss  do  not  follow,  but  rather 
a  niori;  abumlant  briMMlinu'  of  the  foolish  and  unhap]iy,  comes 
a  time  of  ilonbt  nnd  dcsjiondeiicy.  liut  in  tlie  great  Ilefonu- 
year  Hope  was  mighty  :  th(!  ])rospef't  of  Ileform  had  even 
served  tin;  voters  instead  of  drink;  and  in  one  place,  at  least, 
there  had  tn-en  "a  dry  eP-'ction."  And  now  the  speakers 
at   ILeform   banquets    were   exuberant   in    congratulation   and 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  187 

promise :  Liberal  clergymen  of  the  Establishment  toasted  Lib- 
eral Catholic  clergymen  without  any  allusion  to  scarlet,  and 
Catholic  clergymen  replied  with  a  likf^  tender  reserve.  Some 
dwelt  on  tlu'  abolition  of  all  abuses,  and  on  millennial  blessed- 
ness generally ;  others,  whose  imaginations  were  less  suffused 
with  exhalations  of  the  dawn,  insisted  chiefly  on  the  ballot- 
box. 

Kow  on  this  question  of  the  ballot  the  minister  strongly 
took  the  negative  sitle.  Our  pet  o})inions  are  usually  those 
which  place  us  in  a  minority  of  a  minority  amongst  our  own 
})artj/' :  —  very  happily,  else  those  poor  opinions,  born  with  no 
silver  spoon  in  their  mouths  —  how  would  they  get  nourished 
and  fed  ?  So  it  was  with  ]\[r.  Lyon  and  his  objection  to  the 
ballot.  But  he  had  thrown  out  a  remark  on  the  subject  which 
was  not  quite  clear  to  his  hearer,  Avho  interpreted  it  according 
to  his  best  calculation  of  probabilities. 

'•'  1  have  no  objection  to  the  ballot,"'  said  Harold,  "  but  I 
think  that  is  nut  the  sort  of  thing  we  have  to  work  at 
just  now.  We  should  n't  get  it.  And  other  questions  are 
imminent.'' 

'•  Then.  sir.  you  would  vote  for  the  ballot?"  said  Mr.  Lyon, 
stroking  his  chin. 

"Certainly,  if  the  ])oint  came  up.  I  have  too  much  respect 
for  the  freedom  of  the  voter  to  oppose •  anything  which  offers  a 
chance  of  making  that  freedom  more  comjiL'te." 

Mr.  Lyon  looked  at  the  speaker  wilh  a  pitying  smile  and 
a  subdued  "h'm — m — m,"  whicli  Harold  tui.'k  for  a  sign  of 
satisfaction.     He  was  soon  undeceived. 

"  You  grieve  me,  sir  ;  you  grieve  me  much.  And  I  pray 
you  to  reconsider  tliis  question,  for  it  will  take  you  to  the 
root,  as  T  think,  of  political  molality.  T  engage  to  show  to 
any  impartial  mind,  duly  fui':;;.^h 'd  witli  the  principles  of 
})ublic  and  ])rivate  rectitude,  tliat  tlu-  b;illot  would  be  perni- 
cious, and  tliat  if  it  were  not  jjerTiieiciis  it  would  still  be  futile. 
I  will  shew,  first,  tliat  it  would  l)e  futile  as  a  preservative 
from  bribery  and  illegitimate  mtiuenee,  and.  secomily.  that  it 
Would  be  in  the  worst  kind  ]iei  niejcms.  as  shuttiii'_:  tln'  ^''.or 
against  those  intiuences  wherei)y  the  soul  ol  a  man  an('   :  he 


188  FELIX    HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

character  of  a  citizen  are  duly  educated  for  their  great  func- 
tions.    Be  not  alarmed  if  I  detain  you,  sir.     It  is  well  worth 

the  while."' 

"  Confound  this  old  man,"  thought  Harold.  "  I  '11  never 
mak'.'  a  canvassing  call  on  a  preacher  again,  unless  he  has  lost 
his  voice  from  a  cold.*'  He  Avas  going  to  excuse  himself  as 
prud'Mitl}'  as  he  could,  by  deferring  the  subject  till  the  mor- 
row, and  inviting  ]VIr.  Lyon  to  come  to  him  in  the  committee- 
room  before  the  time  appointed  for  his  public  speech ;  but  he 
was  relieved  by  the  opening  of  the  door.  Lyddy  put  in  her 
head  to  say  — 

*'  If  you  please,  sir,  here  "s  ]\[r.  Holt  wants  to  know  if  he 
may  come  in  and  speak  to  the  gentleman.  He  begs  your 
pardon,  bait  you're  to  say  ''no'  if  you  don't  like  him  to 
come."' 

'•'  Xay,  show  him  in  at  once,  Lyddy.  A  young  man,"  Mr. 
Lyon  went  on,  speaking  to  Harold,  -'whom  a  representative 
ought  to  know  —  no  voter,  but  a  man  of  ideas  and  study." 

•'  He  is  thoroughly  welcome,""  said  Harold,  truthfully 
enough,  though  lie  felt  little  interest  in  the  voteless  man  of 
ideas  except  as  a  divcM-sion  from  the  subject  of  the  ballot.  He 
had  btHMi  standing  for  tlie  Inst  ininute  or  two,  feeling  less  of  a 
victim  in  that  attitude,  and  more  able  to  calculate  on  means  of 
esca])e. 

"Mr.  Holt,  sir,"'  said  the  minister,  as  Felix  entered.  "  is  a 
young  irit-nd  i.f  mine,  whose  opinions  on  some  })oints  I  hope 
tu  si'c  altered,  but  who  has  a  zeal  for  public  justice  which  I 
trii-l  he  will  liuver  lose."' 

'•  '  iMii  g!a:]  to  see  Mr.  Holt,"  said  Harold,  bowing.  He 
perceived  iVum  the  way  in  which  I'^elix  bowed  to  him  and 
turned  to  tlie  most  distant  s])()t  in  the  room,  that  the  candi- 
date's s]ial;e  (d'  the  liaiid  would  not  be  welcome  here.  "A  for- 
midable rellow."  he  tlujught,  '•'caj)a.ble  of  mounting  a  cart  in 
th(^,  market-plaee  to-moia'ow  and  ci'cjssexaniirdng  me,  if  1  say 
anything  tliat  ilnes  n't  nleas'e  Inni."' 

'■'Ml',  Lyon."  >d'u\  I'elix.  "I  Irivn  taken  a  liberty  with  you 
in  asking  to  see  M  i\  I'l-anscune  when  iie  is  engaged  with  you. 
I5\tt   I   have  to  s])eak   to  liim  ou  a  matter   which  1  should  n't 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  189 

care  to  make  public  at  present,  and  it  is  one  on  which  I  am 
sure  yon  -NsiU  back  me,  I  heard  that  Mr.  Transome  was  here, 
so  1  ventured  to  come.  I  hope  you  will  both  excuse  me,  as 
my  business  refers  to  some  electioneerin;^^  measures  which  are 
being  taken  by  Mr.   Transomc's  agents.'' 

"  Pray  go  on,"  said  Harold,  (>xpecting  something  unpleasant. 

"  1  "m  not  going  to  speak  against  treating  voters,"  said 
Felix;  ''I  suppose  buttered  ale,  and  grease  of  that  sort  to 
make  the  wheels  go,  belong  to  the  necessary  humbug  of 
Representation.  But  I  wish  to  ask  you,  jVIr,  Transome, 
whether  it  is  with  your  knowledge  that  agents  of  yours  are 
bribing  rough  fellows  who  are  no  voters  —  the  colliers  and 
navvies  at  Sproxton  —  with  tlie  chance  of  extra  drunkenness, 
that  they  may  make  a  posse  on  your  side  at  the  nomination 
and  })olling  ?  " 

'"  Certainly  not,"  said  Harold.  "  You  are  aware,  my  dear 
sir,  that  a  candidate  is  very  much  at  the  mercy  of  his  agents 
as  to  the  means  l)y  which  he  is  returned,  especially  when 
many  years'  absence  has  made  him  a  stranger  to  the  men 
actually  conducting  business.  But  are  you.  sure  of  your 
facts  ? " 

"As  sure  as  my  siMises  can  make  me,"  said  Felix,  who  then 
briefly  described  what  had  liap})ened  on  Sunday.  "I  be- 
lieved that  you  were  ignor;i.nt  of  all  tliis,  Mr.  Transome," 
he  ended,  ''and  that  was  wliy  I  thought  some  good  miglit 
be  done  by  speaking  to  you.  Jf  not,  1  should  be  tempted  to 
expose  th*^  whole  affair  as  a  ilisgrace  to  tiie  Kadical  party. 
I'm  a  Ivadical  myself,  and  mean  to  woi'k  all  my  life  long 
against  })rivilege,  monopdly,  and  opju'essioii.  But  I  would 
rather  be  a  livery -servant  ])r()rid  of  my  master's  title,  thar.  [. 
would  seem  to  make  common  canst^  with  scoundrels  wlio  turn 
the  best  hopes  of  nuMi  into  bywords  tor  cant  and  dislionc^sty."' 

'•Your  energetic  protest  is  needless  here,  sir,''  said  Harold, 
offended  at  what  sounde(l  lik'  a  threat,  and  was  certabily 
premature  enougli  to  be  in  bad  ta.-te.  In  fact,  tliis  ei'r.;;'  oi 
behavior  in  Felix  ])roceede;]  ir.'ia  ;;  I'epulsion  whicli  vas  mu- 
tual. It.  was  a  coTi-la.nt  -ouree  ■!{  ivTitation  to  ]'''r  ''"ha'^  the 
public  men  on  his  side  were,  on  tne  v/iioic,  not  cons-  ie-cr.sly 


190  FIXIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

better  than  the  public  men  on  the  other  side ;  that  the  spirit 

of  innovati(jn,  wliich  with  liim  was  a  part  of  religion,  was  in 
many  of  its  mouthpieces  no  more  of  a  religion  than  the  faith 
in  rotten  boroughs  ;  and  he  was  thus  })redisposed  to  distrust 
llaroh!  Transome.  Harold,  in  his  turu,  disliked  impracticable 
notions  of  loftiness  and  purity  —  disliked  all  enthusiasm;  and 
he  thought  he  saw  a  very  troublesome,  vigorous  incortioration 
of  that  I'ousense  in  Felix.  But  it  would  be  foolish  to  exas- 
perate him  in  any  Vvay. 

"If  you  choose  to  accompany  me  to  Jermyn's  office,"  he 
went  (;i!,  "tlie  matter  shall  be  inquired  into  in  your  presence. 
I  thinlc  you  will  agree  with  me,  Mr.  Lyon,  that  this  will  be 
the  uiost  satisfactory  course  ?  " 

"Donl.'tless,"  said  the  minister,  who  liked  the  candidate 
very  vrell,  and  believed  that  he  would  be  amenable  to  argu- 
ment ;  "  and  I  would  caution  m^y  young  friend  against  a  too 
great  hastiness  of  words  and  action.  David's  cause  against 
Saul  was  a  righteous  one  ;  nevertheless  not  all  who  clave  unto 
David  were  righteous  men." 

"  The  mor(^,  was  the  pity,  sir,"  said  Felix.  "  Especially  if 
he  winked  at  tluur  malpractices." 

Mr.  Lyon  smiled,  shook  his  head,  and  stroked  his  favorite's 
a,rm  de^jrecatingly. 

''It  is  rather  too  much  for  any  man  to  keep  the  consciences 
of  all  his  j)ai'ty,"  said  Harold.  "  If  you  had  lived  in  the  East, 
as  I  have,  y(ni  would  be  more  tolerant.  IMore  t(jlerant,  for 
example,  of  an  active  industrious  selfishness,  such  as  we  have 
here,  thougli  it  may  not  always  be  quite;  scrujmlous  :  you 
\v(mld  se(;  Iioav  much  better  it  is  than  au  idle  selfishness.  I 
liave  heard  it  said,  a  bridge  is  a.  good  tiling  —  worth  helping  to 
make,  though  ball  the  uum  who  worke'd  at  it  were  rogues." 

''Oh  yes  I  "  said  belix,  scorirfuUy,  '-give  me  a  handful  of 
geuerabties  and  analogies,  and  T  "11  undertake  to  justify  Ihirke 
and  Hare,  and  prove  them  benefactors  of  their  S])ecies.  I  '11 
tolerate  no  nuisan(!es  but  such  as  I  can't  help;  and  the  ques- 
tion now  is,  not  v>  lictlici'  ^ve  can  do  away  with  all  the  nui- 
sances in  tlie  world,  but  with  a  pailicmlar  nuisance  under  our 
noses." 


FELIX   JIOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  191 

"Then  we  liad  better  cut  the  matter  short,  as  I  pro[)o.-?e,  by 
going  at  once  to  Jermyn's,"'  said  Harold.  '"In  that  case,  I 
must  bid  you  good-morning,  iMr.  Lyon." 

'•I  wouhl  lain,"  said  tlie  minister,  h)oking  uneasy  —  *' 1 
wouhl  fain  have  had  a  further  opportunity  of  considering  that 
(luestion  of  the  balhjt  witli  you.  Tlu^  reasons  against  it  need 
not  be  urged  kuigthily  ;  tliey  only  require  complete  enumera- 
tion to  prevent  any  seeming  hiatus,  wliere  an  opposing 
fallacy  might  thrust  itself  in." 

"Never  fear,  sir,"'  said  Harold,  shaking  Mr.  Lyon's  hand 
cordiallv,  '•'there  will  be  o[)portunities.  Shall  i  not  see  you 
in  the  connnittee-room  to-nu)rro\v  ? " 

"  1  think  not,"  said  -iLr.  Lyon,  rubbing  his  brow,  with  a  sad 
remcmbiauce  of  his  personal  anxieties.  '■  But  1  will  send  you, 
if  you  will  pernut  me,  a  brief  writing,  on  which  you  can  medi- 
tati'  at  your  leisure." 

•'  I  shall  be  delighted.     Good-by." 

ITarold  and  Felix  went  out  togetlier;  and  the  minister, 
going  u[)  to  liis  dull  study,  asked  himself  whcither,  under  the 
]>ressure  of  confiicting  experience",  he  hail  I'aithfully  discharged 
the  duties  of  tlie  ])ast  interview? 

If  a  cynical  S})rit(3  were  present,  riding  on  one  of  the  motes 
in  that  dusty  room,  lu^  I'l^'y  iiave  made  himsell'  merr}'  at  the 
illusions  of  the  little  minister  wlu)  brought  so  much  eon- 
scimce  to  bear  on  tlie  piodr.etion  of  so  slight  an  eff(>et.  I 
■.'oiiiess  to  smiling  myself,  being  see])(-ical  as  to  the  effect  of 
ariient  a[)})eals  and  niiM^  disl  inctions  on  grnth'men  wlio  are 
got  i|i,  both  insiiu'  and  out.  as  e;indida1('s  in  tiic  stvh.'  of  tlu^ 
period  ;  but  L  never  sniib'd  ;it  Mr.  TA'on's  trustful  energy 
wii.hmit  falling  to  periit-ene(>  and  vrniMation  imnu'diately  al'tei'. 
l''oi'  what  we  c;d.l  illusions  are  often,  in  truth,  a  wider  vision 
of  jiast  and  present  rt'iilities  —  :\  v.dlling  ;;u)venuuit  of  a,  man's 
soul  With  the  larger  sweep  ol'  the  W(_)rld"s  forces — -a  movenuMit 
towai'ds  a  nmn'  assured  end  than  the  elianees  of  a  single  life. 
\\  f  see  human  heroism  broken  into  units  antl  say,  this  unit 
did  little  —  might  as  w(.'ll  n<it  have  l)een.  b!ut  in  this  way  we 
might  t)reak  u])  a  great  army  iub)  units;  in  this  way  we  might 
break  the  suulit^ht  into  fratrmeuts,  and  think  that  this  and  the 


102  FELIX   HOLT,   THP]   RADICAL. 

other  might  be  cheaply  parted  with.  Let  us  rather  raise  a 
monument  to  the  soldiers  whose  brave  hearts  only  kept  the 
ranks  unbroken,  and  met  death  —  a  monument  to  the  faithful 
who  were  not  famous,  and  who  are  precious  as  the  continuity 
of  the  sunbeams  is  precious,  though  some  of  them  fall  unseen 
and  on  barrenness. 

At  present,  looking  back  on  that  day  at  Treby,  it  seems  to 
me  that  the  sadder  illusion  lay  with  Harold  Transome,  who 
was  trusting  in  his  own  skill  to  shape  the  success  of  his  own 
morrows,  ignorant  of  what  many  yesterdays  had  determined 
for  him  beforehand. 


CHAPTER  XVIL 

It  is  a  good  and  soothfast  saw ; 
Half-roasted  never  will  be  raw ; 
No  dough  is  dried  once  more  to  meal. 
No  crock  new-shapen  by  the  wheel; 
Yon  can't  turn  curds  to  milk  again, 
Nor  Now,  l)y  wishing,  back  to  Then ; 
And  liaving  tasted  stolen  honey, 
You  can't  buy  innocence  for  money. 

Jermyn-  was  not  particularly  pleased  that  some  chance  had 
apparently  hindered  Harold  Transome  from  making  other 
canvassing  visits  immediately  after  leaving  ]\Ir.  Lyon,  and  so 
had  s(,'nt  him  back  to  the  office  earlier  than  he  had  been  ex- 
pected to  come.  Tlie  inconvfMiient  cliaiice  he  guessed  at  once 
to  be  ]'f'])res('iited  by  Felix  H(jlt,  whom  lu^  knew  very  well  by 
1'rcl)iaii  report  to  bf  a  young  man  witli  so  little  of  the  ordi- 
nary Clirisfian  motives  as  to  jiiakiugan  ajipearance  and  getting 
on  in  the  world,  that  lie  presented  no  handle  to  any  judicious 
and  respectable  jjersun  wlio  iiiight  hn  willing  to  make  use  of 
him. 

Harold  Transonic,  on  his  side,  ^\•as  a  good  deal  annoyed  ai; 
being  worried  by   helix  into  an  inquiry  about  electioneering 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   KADICAL.  193 

{leaiils.  The  real  dignity  and  honesty  th('re  was  in  him  made 
iiini  shrink  from  this  necessity  of  satisfying  a  man  with  a 
troublesome  tongue  ;  it  was  as  if  he  were  to  show  indignation 
at  the  discovery  of  one  barrel  with  a  false  bottom^  when  he 
had  invested  his  money  in  a  manufactory  where  a  larger  or 
smaller  number  of  such  barrels  had  always  been  made.  A 
practical  man  must  seek  a  good  end  by  the  only  possible 
means  ;  that  is  to  say,  if  he  is  to  get  into  Parliament  ho  must 
■not  be  too  particular.  It  was  not  disgraceful  to  be  neither  a 
v^)uixote  nor  a  tlieorist,  aiming  to  correct  the  moral  rules  of 
tlie  world  ;  but  whatever  actually  was,  or  might  prove  to  be, 
disgraceful,  Harold  lield  in  detestation.  In  this  mcod  he 
])uslied  on  unceremoniously  to  the  inner  office  without  waiting 
to  ask  questions  ;  and  when  he  perceived  that  Jermyu  was 
not  alone,  he  said,  with  haughty  quickness  — 

"  A  question  about  the  electioneering  at  Sproxton.  Can  you 
give  your  attention  to  it  at  once  ?  Here  is  Mr.  Holt,  who  has 
conu'  to  me  about  tlie  business." 

'•A  —  yes  —  a  —  certainl}-,"  said  Jermyn,  who,  as  usual, 
was  the  more  cool  and  deliberate  because  he  was  vexed.  He 
was  standing,  and,  as  he  turned  round,  his  broad  iigure  con- 
cealed tlie  person  who  was  seatt'd  writing  at  the  bureau. 
"  Mr.  Holt  —  a  —  wdl  doubtless  —  a  —  make  a  jjoint  of  saving 
a  busy  man's  time.  You  can  speak  at  once.  This  gentleman" 
—  here  Jermyn  made  a  slight  backward  movement  of  the 
head  —  "  is  one  of  ourselves  ;  he  is  a  tru(^-blue." 

"T  have  simply  to  complain,*'  said  Felix,  "that  one  of  your 
agents  has  been  sent  on  a  bribing  expedition  to  Spvoxtun  — 
with  what  purpose  you,  sir,  may  know  better  than  I  do.  i\Ir. 
Trausome,  it  appears,  was  ignorant  of  the  aif.iir,  and  does  not 
ap])rove  it." 

Jermyn,  looking  gravely  and  steadily  at  Felix  while  he  av;is 
S])eaking,  at  the  same  time  drew  forth  a  small  sheaf  of  }ia})ers 
from  his  side-pocket,  and  then,  as  he  turned  his  eyes  slowly  on 
Harold,  felt  in  his  waistcoat-jjoeki  t  for  his  jx-neil-case. 

"  1  don't  apjirove  it  ;it  all."  s;ud  Harold.  wIkj  hated  Jc!-myn"3 
calculated  slowness  and  conceit  in  his  own  inqienetrability. 
"  Ik',  godd  enough  to  put  a  sto]i  to  it,  will   you/" 

VOL.    [11  13 


194  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

"Mr.  Holt,  I  know,  is  an  excellent  Liberal,"  said  Jermyn, 
just  inclining  his  head  to  Harold,  and  then  alternately  looking 
at  Felix  and  docketing  his  bills  ;  "  but  he  is  perhaps  too  inex^ 
perienced  to  be  aware  that  no  canvass  —  a  —  can  be  conducted 
without  the  action  of  able  men,  who  must  —  a  —  be  trusted, 
and  not  interfered  with.  And  as  to  any  possibility  of  promis- 
ing to  [)ut  a  stop  —  a  —  to  any  procedure  —  a  —  that  depends. 
If  he  liad  ever  held  tii;'  coachman's  ribbons  in  his  hands,  as  I 
Juive  in  my  younger  days  —  a  —  he  would  know  that  stopping 
is  not  ahvays  easy." 

'•  I  know  very  littlo  about  holding  ribbons,"  said  Felix ;  "but 
I  saw  clearly  enough  at  once  that  more  mischief  had  been  done 
tlian  coidd  l;e  well  meuded.  Though  I  believe,  if  it  were  heart- 
ily tried,  the  treating  might  be  reduced,  and  something  might 
be  d(me  to  hinder  tlie  men  from  tundng  out  in  a  body  to  make 
a  noise,  vrhicli  miglit  end  in  worse." 

"They  inight  be  hindered  from  making  a  noise  on  our  side," 
said  Jermyn,  smiling.  "That  is  perfectly  true.  But  if  they 
made  a.  noise  on  the  other  —  would  your  purpose  be  answered 
better,  sir  ?  " 

Harold  was  moving  about  in  an  irritated  manner  wliile  Felix 
and  Jermyn  were  s];caking.  He  preferred  leaving  the  talk  to 
the  attorney,  of  whose  talk  he  himself  liked  to  keep  as  clear 
as  possil)le. 

"I  can  only  say,"  answered  Felix,  "that  if  you  make  use  of 
tiiose  heavy  fellows  As-hcn  the  di'ink  is  in  tlnun,  I  shouldn't 
in<e  your  responsibility.  You  might  as  well  drive  bulls 
b)  roar  on  our  side  as  l)ribe  a  set  of  colliers  and  navvies  to 
stiont  and  gi'oun."'' 

"A  laAvycr  may  well  envy  your  r-oniinand  of  language,  IMr. 
Koit/  ;:aid  .I('!';iiyii.  ]i'.c!.;ctijig  his  1/ills  again,  and  shutting 
up  liis  p'Micil  ;  "'  lint  hf'  w'uuld  not  bi'  satisfied  witli  the  accuracy 
—  a  —  of  yoni'  tcian:-..  Yon  must  i)ermit  urn  to  check  your  use 
oC  the  word  '  Ijriljcry.'  The  essence  of  bi'ibory  is,  tliat  it  should 
be  h'gally  [irovcd  ;  IIkm'c  is  not  such  a  thing  —  a — 'i/i  7'erum, 
natuvi'.  —  a — ^as  r.n|a"()  ,-(m]  bribery.  'J'here  has  been  no  such 
thing  as  ])ri1)ery  at  S|iioxf,on,  !  '11  auswtu"  for  it.  The  prescmce 
of  a  body  (;f  stalwart  fellows  on  —  a  —  the  Liberal  side  will  tend 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  195 

to  preserve  order  ;  for  we  know  that  the  benefit  clubs  from  the 
I'itchley  district  will  show  for  Debarry.  Indeed,  the  gentle- 
man who  has  conducted  the  canvass  at  Sproxton  is  experienced 
in  rarliamentary  affairs,  and  would  not  exceed  —  a  —  the  nec- 
essary measures  that  a  rational  judgment  would  dictate." 

"What!  you  mean  the  man  who  calls  himself  Johnson?" 
said  Felix,  in  a  tone  of  disgust. 

lU'lore  Jermyn  chose  to  answer,  Harold  broke  in,  saying, 
quiclvly  and  peremptorily,  '■  The  long  and  the  short  of  it  is 
this,  JMr.  Holt:  I  shall  desire  and  insist  that  whatever  can  be 
done  by  way  of  remedy  shall  be  done.  Will  that  satisfy  you? 
You  see  now  some  of  a  candidate's  difficulties  ?  "  said  Harold, 
breaking  into  his  most  agreeable  smile.  '•  i  hope  you  will  have 
some  pity  for  me." 

"I  suppose  I  must  be  content,"  said  Felix,  not  thoroughly 
})ro[)itiated.     '•  I  bid  you  good  morning,  gentlemen." 

When  he  was  gone  out,  and  had  closed  the  door  behind  him, 
Harold,  turning  round  and  flashing,  in  spite  of  himself,  an 
angr}-  look  at  Jermyn,  said  — 

'•  And  who  is  Johnson?  an  (dtas,  I  suppose.  It  seems  you 
are  fond  of  the  name." 

Jermyn  turned  perceptibly  paler,  but  disagreeables  of  this 
sort  between  himself  and  Ibirold  had  been  too  much  in  his  an- 
tioijialions  of  late  for  him  to  be  taken  by  surprise.  He  turned 
quietly  round  and  just  touched  the  shoulder  of  the  person 
seated  at  the  bureau,  Avho  now  rose. 

'•()ii  til"  contrary,"  Jermyn  answered,  "the  Johnson  in  ques- 
tion is  this  g(uitieman,  whom  T  h;ive  the  jileasure  of  introdu- 
cing to  vdu  as  on(>  of  my  most  nctiv;'  ]iel])mates  in  electioniMTing 
business  —  ^\r.  Johnson,  of  l^'dford  lo>w.  T^ondon.  I  am  eom- 
])arativ('ly  a,  novie(>  —  a^ —  in  tlicsi-  lualtcrs.  ]!ut  he  was  engaged 
with  dames  Putty  in  tv.-o  liardly  cnutcsted  elections,  and  there 
could  scarcely  be  a  bett(M'  iuiiiation.  Tutty  is  one  of  the  first 
num  of  the  eountry  as  an  a'jvut  —  a  on  th(»  Liberal  side  — a 
• — eh.  Johnson?  T  think  .Mak'qat'ce  is  —  a  —  not  altogi'tlier  a 
mat(di  for  him,  not  (piite  of  tin'  sanu'  calibre  —  a — //m/J  con- 
siviiH  inrjcjilo — a  — in  tactics  —  a — and  in  cxiicricncc  ■;' " 

'•  Makepiece  is  a  wonderful  iiiau,  and  so  is  Putty,"  said  the 


196  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

glib  Jolmson,  too  vain  not  to  be  pleased  with  an  opportunity 

of  speaking,  even  when  the  situation  was  rather  awkward. 
''  Makepiece  for  scheming,  but  Putty  for  management.  Putty 
knows  men,  sir,'*  he  went  on,  turning  to  Harold ;  "  it 's  a  thou- 
sand pities  that  you  have  not  had  his  talents  employed  in  your 
service.  He 's  beyond  any  man  for  saving  a  candidate's  money 
—  does  half  the  work  with  his  tongue.  He  '11  talk  of  anything, 
from  the  Areopagus,  and  that  sort  of  thing,  down  to  the  joke 
about  'Where  are  you  going,  Paddy?'  —  you  know  what  I 
mean,  sir!  'Back  again,  says  Paddy  '  —  an  excellent  election- 
eering joke.  Putty  understands  these  things.  He  has  said  to 
me,  'Johnson,  bear  in  mind  there  are  two  ways  of  speaking  an 
audience  will  always  like  :  one  is,  to  tell  them  what  they  don't 
understand ;  and  the  other  is,  to  tell  them  what  they  're  used 
to.'  1  shall  never  be  the  man  to  deny  that  I  owe  a  great  deal 
to  Putty.  I  always  say  it  was  a  most  providential  thing  in  the 
Mugham  election  last  year  that  Putty  was  not  on  the  Tory 
side.  He  managed  the  women;  and,  if  you '11  believe  me,  sir, 
one  fourth  of  the  men  would  never  have  voted  if  their  wives 
had  n't  driven  them  to  it  for  the  good  of  their  families.  And 
as  for  speaking —  it 's  currently  reported  in  our  London  circles 
that  Putty  writes  regularly  for  the  '  Times.'  He  has  that  kind 
of  language  ;  and  I  needn't  tell  you,  Mv.  Transonic,  that  it's 
the  a])ex,  which,  I  take  it,  means  the  tiptop  —  and  nobody  can 
get  higher  than  that,  I  think.  I  've  belonged  to  a  political  de- 
bating society  myself;  I  've  heard  a  little  language  in  my  time  ; 
but  wlien  Mr.  Jei'niyn  first  spoke  to  me  about  having  the  honcu- 
to  assist  in  your  canvass  of  ^orth  Loamshire  ''  —  here  Johnson 
i'layed  with  his  vratch-sc^als  and  balanced  himself  a  inoment  on 
his  toes —  "the  very  first  thing  I  said  was,  'And  tliere 's  Gar- 
stin  has  got  Pntty  !  Xo  AVhig  could  stand  against  a  Whig,'  I 
said,  'who  liail  Putty  on  liis  side:  I  hope  Mr.  Transome  goes 
in  for  something  of  a  deeper  color.'  I  don't  say  that,  as  a  gen- 
eral rule,  o])iiii()ns  go  for  much  in  a  return,  Mr.  Transoine ;  it 
depends  on  who  ;ire  in  the  field  before  you,  and  on  the  skill  of 
your  agents.  15nt  as  a  radical,  and  a  moneyed  Padical,  you 
lire  in  a  fine  ]H)sition,  sir;  and  with  care  and  hidgment  —  with 
enre  and  judgment  — '' 


FKLIX   UULT,    THE   KADICAL.  197 

It  had  been  impossible  to  interrupt  Johnson  before,  without 
the  most  iuijiolitic  rudeness.  Jermyn  was  not  sorry  that  he 
should  talk,  even  if  he  made  a  fool  of  himself ;  for  in  that 
solid  shape,  exhibiting  the  averai^e  amount  of  human  foibles, 
lie  seemed  less  of  the  alias  whieh  Harold  had  insinuated  him 
to  be,  and  had  all  the  additional  plausibility  of  a  lie  with  a 
circumstance. 

Harold  had  thrown  himself  with  contemptuous  resignation 
into  a  chair,  had  drawn  off  one  of  his  buff  gloves,  and  was 
looking  at  his  hand.  lUit  when  Johnson  gave  his  iteration 
witli  a  slightly  slackened  2>;^('t',  Harold  looked  up  at  him  and 
broke  in  — 

"  Well  then,  IVfr.  Johnson,  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  will  uso 
your  care  and  judgment  in  putting  an  end,  as  well  as  you 
can,  to  this  Sproxton  affair ;  else  it  may  turn  out  au  ugly 
business." 

"  Excuse  me,  sir ;  I  must  beg  you  to  look  at  the  matter  a 
little  more  closely.  You  will  see  that  it  is  iinpossible  to  take 
a  single  step  backward  at  Sproxton.  It  w\as  a  matter  of 
necessity  to  get  the  Sproxton  men  ;  else  I  know  to  a  certainty 
the  other  side  would  have  laid  hold  of  them  first,  and  now 
I  've  undermined  Garstin's  people.  They  '11  use  their  author- 
ity, and  give  a  little  shabby  treating,  but  I've  taken  all  the 
wind  out  of  their  sails.  i>ut  if,  by  your  orders,  I  or  Mr,  Jer- 
myn here  were  to  break  ])i'omise  witli  the  honest  fellows,  and 
offi'ud  Chubb  the  publican,  wiiat  would  come  of  it?  Chubb 
would  leave  no  stone  unturned  against  you,  sir;  he  would  >.''<j:'^ 
on  his  custoiners  against  you  ;  the  colliers  and  navvies  would 
be  at  the  nomination  and  at  tlu^  election  all  the  same,  or  rather 
not  all  the  same,  for  they  would  bt^  there  against  us  :  and 
instead  of  hustling  penple  gcKxl-lnniioi-edlv  by  way  of  a  j^>ke. 
and  Cdunttudxilancinq-  !)ebarrv"s  clitHU-s,  they  "d  help  to  "kick 
the  elieei'ing  and  llie  voting  out  of  our  inen.  and  instead  of 
being,  let  us  say,  half-a-dozen  ahead  of  Garstin.  you'd  be  half- 
a-dozen  behind  him.  that's  all.  1  speak  plain  English  to  you, 
iMr.  Transome.  t]ioue;h  T  "ve  the  liieliest  respect  for  you  as  a 
gentleman  of  tirst-rate  talents  and  ])osition.  hint.  sir.  to  judi^e 
of  tliese  things  a  man  must  kn,ow  the  English  voter  and  the 


198  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

Englisli  })ublican ;  and  it  would  be  a  poor  tale  indeed"  —  here 
Mr.  Johnson's  mouth  took  an  expression  at  once  bitter  and 
pathetic  —  "that  a  gentleman  like  you,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
good  of  the  country,  should  have  gone  to  the  expense  and 
trouble  of  a  canvass  for  nothing  but  to  find  himself  out  of 
Parliament  at  the  end  of  it.  I've  seen  it  again  and  again;  it 
looks  bad  in  the  cleverest  nuin  to  have  to  sing  small." 

Mr.  Johnson's  argument  was  not  the  less  stringent  because 
his  idioms  were  vulgar.  It  requires  a  conviction  and  resolu- 
tion amounting  to  heroism  not  to  wince  at  phrases  that  class 
our  foreshadowed  endurance  among  those  common  and  igno- 
minious troubles  which  the  world  is  iwow  likely  to  sneer  at  than 
to  })ity.  Harold  renuiined  a  few  moments  in  angry  silence 
looking  at  the  lloor,  with  one  hand  on  his  knee  and  the  other 
on  his  hat,  as  if  he  were  in-eparing  to  start  u}). 

"As  to  undoing  anything  that's  been  done  down  there," 
said  Johnson,  throwing  in  this  observation  as  something  into 
the  bargain,  '•  I  must  wash  my  hands  of  it,  sir.  I  could  n't 
work  knowingly  against  your  interest.  And  that  young  man 
who  is  just  gone  out,  —  you  don't  believe  that  he  need  be 
listened  to,  T  ho[)e  ?  Chubb,  the  publican,  hates  him.  Chubb 
would  guess  he  was  at  the  bottom  of  _your  having  the  ti-eating 
sto]iped,  and  he'd  set  lialf-a-dozen  of  the  colliers  to  duck  liim 
in  the  canal,  or  break  his  head  by  mistake.  I  'm  an  experi- 
enced num.  sir.     I  hope  I've  put  it  clear  enough." 

'•  (Jertainly,  the  exposition  belits  the  subject."  said  Harold, 
scoi-nfully,  liis  dislike  of  tlie  man  Johnson's  jici'sonaliTy  being 
stimulated  by  causes  wliicli  Jeianyn  nioi'e  tlian  conjectured. 
•'  It  's  a  damned.  nni)leasant.  ravelled  l)usin('ss  that  3'ou  and 
Mr.  .Icrmyn  have  knit  u[)  between  you.      I  've  no  more  to  say." 

••'I'lieii,  sir,  if  you've  no  nxjre  commands,  I  don't  wish  to 
intrude.  I  shall  wish  you  good  morning,  sir,''  said  Johnson, 
passing  out  (piiekly. 

Marohl  knew  that  he  was  indulging  his  temper,  and  he 
would  probably  have  restra.incd  it  as  a  foolish  move  if  lie 
liad  thought  there  was  great  danger  in  it.  I'nt  Ik;  was  begin- 
ning to  (lr(jp  much  oi'  his  caution  and  self-mastery  wluuv^  ,h'v- 
myn  was  concerned,  under  the   growing  conviction  that  the 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  199 

attorney  had  vtuy  strong  reasons   for  being  afraid  of  him ; 

reasons  wliich  would  only  be  reinforced  by  any  action  hostile 
to  the  Transonic  interest.  As  for  a  sneak  like  this  Johnson, 
a  gentleman  had  to  pay  him,  not  to  i)]ease  him.  Harold  had 
smiles  at  command  in  the  right  place,  but  he  was  not  going 
to  smile  when  it  Avas  neither  n(!cessary  nor  agreeable.  He 
was  one  of  those  good-humored,  yet  energetic  men,  who  have 
tlie  gift  of  anger,  hatred,  and  scorn  upon  occasion,  tliough  they 
are  too  healthy  and  self-contented  for  such  fei-lings  to  get 
generattnl  in  them  without  external  occasion.  And  in  relation 
to  Jermyn  ttie  gift  was  coming  into  fine  exercise. 

"  A  —  pardon  me,  Mr.  Harold,"  said  Jermyn,  speaking  as 
soon  as  Johnson  went  out,  '"'but  I  am  sorry  —  a  —  you  should 
behave  disobligingly  to  a  man  who  has  it  in  his  power  to  do 
nuich  scvvicf- — who,  in  fact,  holds  many  threads  in  his  hands. 
I  adiuil  that  —  a  —  nemo  mortaVium  omnibus  Itoris  sajjit,  SiS 
we    say  —  a  —  "" 

'■  Speak  for  yourself."  said  Harold.  "I  don't  talk  in  tags  of 
Latin.  Avliich  might  be  learned  liy  a  schoolmaster's  footboy. 
I  find  the   King's  English  express  my  meaning  better." 

''In  the  King's  English,  then,"  said  Jermyn,  who  could  be 
idiomatic  enough  when  he  was  stung,  ''a  candidate  should 
keep  Ills  kirks   till   he's  a   member." 

'■  ( )h.  r  snpp;)se  .Tohnson  will  bear  a  kick  if  you  bid  him. 
You're  his   priiici])al,    I  believe." 

'•Certainly,  thus  far  —  a  —  he  is  my  London  agent.  But  he 
is  a  man  of  substance,  and  —  '' 

'■  I  shall  kudw  what  he  is  if  it's  necessary.  T  dare  say.  But 
I  must  jump  into  liu'  carriag(>  a:':.iin.  1  "ve  ik.)  lime  to  lose;  I 
must  go  to  Hawkins  at  the  faetoi'v.      ^Vill  you  go?" 

^^  hen  Harold  was  gone.  Jerm\n's  handsome  face  gatliered 
blackness.  Wo  hardly  ever  wore  hi>  worst  expression  in  tlie 
presence  of  othej-s.  and  but  schloai  when  he  was  alone,  for  he 
was  not  given  to  belii've  thai  any  game  would  ultimately  go 
against,  him.  His  luck  had  been  geoih  Xev,-  condition.-;  mi^iit 
always  turn  up  to  give  him  n;-\v  ciiances:  ami  if  affairs  tlii'eat- 
eiieu  lo  come  to  an  t'xtremit\  b'  i  A-een  Hart)ul  and  himself,  lie 
tru.^te(i  to  findiue-  some  sure  re.-ource. 


200  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL. 

"He  means  to  see  to  the  bottom  of  everything  if  he  can, 
that's  quite  plain,"  said  Jermyn  to  liiniself.  "I  believe  he 
has  been  getting  another  opinion ;  he  has  some  new  light 
about  tliose  aniuiities  on  the  estate  that  are  held  in  Johnson's 
name.  He  has  inherited  a  deuced  faculty  for  business  — 
there  's  no  den}- ing  that.  l>ut  I  shall  beg  leave  to  tell  him 
that  1  -*ve  propped  up  the  family.  1  don't  know  where  they 
would  have  been  without  me  ;  and  if  it  comes  to  balancing, 
I  know  into  which  scale  the  gratitude  ought  to  go.  Not  that 
he  's  likely  to  feel  any  —  l)ut  he  can  feel  something  else  ;  and 
if  he  makes  signs  of  setting  tiie  dogs  on  me,  I  shall  make  linr 
feel  it.  The  people  named  Transome  owe  me  a  good  deal 
more  than  I  owe  them.'' 

In  this  way  iMr.  Jermyn  inwardly  appealed  against  an  un- 
just construction  which  he  foresaw  tli:it  his  old  ac(|uaintance 
the  Law  might  put  on  certain  items  in  his  history. 

I  have  known  persons  wlio  hav('  hec/n  suspected  of  under- 
valuing gratitude,  and  exclnding  it  from  the  list  of  virtues; 
but  on  closer  observation  it  has  been  seen  that,  if  they  have 
never  felt  grateful,  it  has  been  for  want  of  an  opportunity ; 
and  that,  far  from  des])ising  gratitude,  they  regard  it  as  the 
virtue  most  of  all  incumbent  —  ou  others  towards  them. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

The  little,  T!;iiiieless,  iiiireineiiiliered  acts 
Of  kiiidiK.'SS  ami  uf  loxe. 

\\'()i;i)s\\()i;rii  :    7 iiifrrn  AU)ey. 

Jki;>tv\"  did  not  forget  to  pay  his  visit  to  the  ]iiinister  in 
Malthonsc,  \'.ird  tliat,  evening.  'I'iie  mingled  ii'i-itnf  ion,  dread. 
and  deliance  wliich  lie  was  feeling  towards  Harold  I'l-aiisome 
in  the  niidilh"  of  the  daw  (le])eiided  on  too  many  and  far- 
streLehiiig  (pauses  to  he  dissipated  liy  eiij^ht  o"i;lo(d^  ;  but  wdien 
ne    le.ll    Air.    i-ycjiTs   lujuse    lie    was    in   a  state   oi'  eo::ii>:irative 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   liADICAL.  201 

triumph  in  tlie  belief  that  he,  and  he  alone,  was  now  in  posses- 
sion el'  i'acts  which,  once  grouped  together,  made  a  secret  that 
gave  him  new  })ower  over  Harold. 

Mr.  Lyon,  in  his  need  for  help  from  one  who  had  that  wisdom 
of  the  serpent  which,  he  argU(Ml,  is  not  forbidden,  but  is  only 
of  hard  ae(|uirement  to  dove-like  innocence,  had  been  gradu- 
ally led  to  ])our  out  to  the  attorney  all  the  reasons  which  made 
him  desire  to  know  the  truth  about  the  man  who  called  him- 
self ^Maurice  Christian:  he  had  shown  all  the  precious  relics, 
the  locket,  the  letters,  and  the  marriage  certiiicate.  And  Jer- 
niyu  had  comforted  him  by  contidently  promising  to  ascertain, 
without  scandal  or  premature  betrayals,  whether  this  man 
were  really  Annette's  husband,  Maui'ice  Christian  >?ycliffe. 

Jermyn  was  not  rash  in  making  this  promise,  since  he  had 
excellent  reasons  for  believing  that  he  had  already  come  to 
a  true  conclusion  on  the  subject.  But  he  wished  botli  to 
know  a  little  more  of  this  man  himself,  and  to  keep  ^Ir. 
Lyon  in  ignorance  —  not  a  difficult  precaution  —  in  an  affair 
which  it  cost  the  minister  so  mmdi  pain  to  speak  of.  An 
easy  o]i])ortunity  of  getting  an  interview  with  Christian  was 
sure  to  oh'er  itself  before  long— ndght  even  offer  itself  to- 
morrow. .Termyn  liad  seen  him  more  tlian  once,  though  hith- 
erto without  any  reason  for  observing  him  with  interest ; 
he  had  heard  that  J'hilip  Debarr3^'s  courier  was  often  busy  in 
the  town,  and.  it  seemed  especially  likely  that  he  would  be 
seen  th('r(^  wlieii  the  ^farket  was  to  be  agitated  by  politics,  and 
llie  new  candidate  was  to  show  his  ])aees. 

The  world  of  which  Ti'eby  >ragna  was  the  centre  was  natu- 
rally euri(nis  to  s''e  the  3oung  Ti'ansonie,  wlio  jiad  come  from 
the  Ivist.  was  as  rich  as  a  Jew.  ami  caHeil  himself  a,  loidical  . 
cliaracteristics  all  e(pially  vau'ue  in  the  nunds  of  vai'ious  i  xcel- 
lent  ra1e-])ayers,  who  drove  to  mai-ket  in  tlieir  taxed  carts,  or 
in  their  lierniitary  gigs.  IMaees  at  conveinent  wiiiilow--  iiad 
been  sceui'cil  1  ici'orehand  ioi'  a  iew  best  bonm^ts  ;  but.  in  ren- 
ei'al.  a  l^adical  c  iinlidate  I'vcit  d  !io  ardent  feminiiie  |'arii-aii- 
ship,  eV(Mi  ani<>ng  the  Di-sent'vs  in  'i'rei)y,  if  they  v/eri'  of  the 
pi'ospei'ous  end  h  iiiu'-residen;  c;:!---;.  Some  cliaju'l-e/'ii'.g  la.]it\> 
wiM-e     fond    of    remembering    that    "  their    iamil}     had    been 


202  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

Churcli ;  "  others  objected  to  politics  altogether  as  having  spoiled 
old  neighborliness,  and  sundered  friends  who  had  kindred 
views  as  to  cowslip  wine  and  IMichaelmas  cleaning  ;  others,  of 
the  melancholy  sort,  said  it  would  be  well  if  people  would 
think  less  of  reforming  Parliament  and  more  of  pleasing  God. 
lrre])roachable  Dissenting  matrons,  like  ]\Irs.  ^Muscat,  whose 
youth  had  Ijeen  passed  in  a  short-waisted  bodice  and  tight 
skirt,  had  never  been  animated  by  the  struggle  for  liberty,  and 
had  a  timid  suspicion  that  religion  was  desecrated  by  being 
a})plied  to  the  things  of  this  world.  Since  ]\Ir.  Lyon  had  been 
in  Malthouse  Yard  there  had  been  far  too  much  mixing  up  of 
politics  v/itli  religion  ;  but,  at  any  rate,  these  ladies  had  never 
yet  been  to  hear  s}ieechifying  in  the  market-jjlace,  and  they 
Avere  n(jt  going  to  begin  tliat  })ractice. 

Esther,  however,  had  heard  some  of  her  feminine  acquaint- 
ances say  that  they  intended  to  sit  at  the  druggist's  upper 
window,  and  she  was  inclined  to  ask  her  father  if  he  could 
think  of  a  suitable  place  where  she  also  might  see  and  hear. 
Two  inconsistt'iit  motives  urged  her.  She  knew  that  Felix  cared 
earnestly  for  all  public  questions,  and  she  supposed  that  he  held 
it  one  of  her  deficiencies  not  to  care  about  them  :  well,  she  would 
try  to  learn  the  secret  of  this  ardor,  wliich  was  so  strong  in  him 
that  it  animated  wliat  she  thou,i;ht  the  dulh^st  form  of  life.  She 
was  not  too  stupid  to  find  it  out.  lUit  this  self-correcting  motive 
vas  pi'cseutly  dis])laced  by  a  motive  of  a  difi'erent  sort.  It  had 
l)eeii  a  ])h'asaiit  variet}'  in  lior  monotonous  days  to  see  a  man  like 
Harfild  Ti'aiisome.  with  a  disl  inguislied  ajjjiearance  and  polished 
manners,  and  she  would  like  to  see  him  again  :  he  suggest(Nl  to 
her  that  bi'iglitt'r  and  more  luxui'ious  life  on  wliich  her  imagina- 
tion dvvrlt  williout  th(>  ])ainrul  i  tfort  it  re(piirf'd  to  ct)nceive  tlie 
mental  condition  wliicli  would  ]ilace  her  in  (•om])lete  sympathy 
with  Felix  Holt.  It  was  this  less  unaccustomed  ])rom])ting  of 
which  she  was  chii/tly  conscious  when  she  awaited  lier  father's 
coming  down  to  breakfast.  \N"hy,  indeed,  should  she  trouble 
herself  so  muidi  aViout  I'^elix? 

]Mr.  Tjvon,  moi'c  serene  iiow  that  lie  had  unbosomed  his  anxi- 
eties a.nd  obtaim-d  a  ]ii'oniise  of  ludp.  was  already  swimming 
80  hap] lily  in  the  deep  water  of  polemics  in  expectation  of 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  203 

Philip  Debarry's  answer  to  his  challenge,  that,  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  making  a  lew  notes  lest  certain  felicitous  inspirations 
should  be  wasted,  he  had  forgotten  to  conic  down  to  breakfast. 
Esther,  suspecting  his  absti'action,  went  up  to  his  study, 
and  found  him  at  his  desk  looking  up  with  wonder  at  her 
interruption. 

''Come,  father,  you  have  forgotten  your  breakfast." 

"It  is  true,  child;  I  will  come,"  he  saul,  lingering  to  make 
some  thial  strokes. 

*''  Uh.  you  naughty  father  !  "  said  Esther,  as  h(^  got  up  from  his 
chair,  "  your  coat-collar  is  twisted,  your  waistcoat  is  buttoned 
all  wrong,  and  you  have  not  brushed  your  hair.  Sit  down  and 
let  me  brush  it  again  as  I  did  yesterday.'' 

He  sat  down  obediently,  while  Esther  took  a  towel,  which 
she  threw  over  his  shoulders,  and  then  brushed  the  thick  long 
fringe  of  soft  auburn  hair.  This  very  trifling  act,  which  she 
had  brought  lierstdf  to  for  the  lirst  time  yesterda}',  meant  a 
great  deal  in  Esther's  little  history.  It  had  been  her  habit  to 
leave  the  mendiug  of  her  father's  clothes  to  Lyddy  ;  she  had  not 
liked  even  to  touch  his  cloth  garments  ;  still  less  had  it  seemed 
a  thiug  she  would  willingly  undertake  to  corrt'ct  his  tcnlet, 
and  use  a  brush  for  him.  LUit  having  once  done  this,  under 
her  new  sense  of  faulty  omission,  the  affertionateness  that 
was  in  her  ilowed  so  })leasaiitly,  as  she  saw  how  much  her 
father  was  nuA'cd  b\-  what  he  thought  a  great  aet  oi'  tenderness, 
that  slie  quite  longed  to  repi'at  it.  T]li^;  moiaiing,  as  he  sat 
under  lu,'r  hands,  his  fac(^  had  such  a  calm  drlight  in  it  that 
she  could  not  help  kissing  the  top  ofliis  bald  lu-ad;  and  at't(U'- 
wards,  when  tliey  wer(>  seated  at  bri-ald'ast.  siie  said,  merrily  — 

"Father,  I  sliall  mak<^  \i  pi'tit  nmUrr  of  you  by-and-by  ,  your 
hair  looks  so  pretty  and  silken  wlidi  it  is  well  brushed." 

"  Xay,  child,  1  trust  tliat  wlrile  i  would  willingly  depart 
from  my  evil  hal)it  of  a  somewhat  -lo\'eidy  I'orgetfulness  in  my 
attire,  I  shall  never  arrive  at  the  opposite  extreme.  For 
tliough  there  is  tliat  in  a|)parei  whieli  pleases  the  eye,  ami  I 
deny  not  that  your  neat  'j:own  ami  tlie  color  rlu'reot'  —  whieh 
is  tliat  of  etM'tain  btth'  flowers  tlial  spi'cad  theiiiscl\-es  in  tlie 
hedgerows,  and  niaivc  a  blueuess  there  as  of  the  sky  when  it  is 


204  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

deepened  in  the  water,  —  I  deny  not,  I  say,  that  these  minor 
strivings  after  a  perfection  which  is,  as  it  were,  an  irrecoverable 
yet  liauntiug  memory,  are  a  good  in  their  proportion.  Never- 
theless, the  brevity  of  our  life,  and  the  hurry  and  crush  of  the 
great  batth'  with  error  and  sin,  often  oblige  us  to  an  advised 
neglect  of  what  is  less  momentous.  This,  I  conceive,  is  the 
jiriiifiplc  on  which  m}'  friend  Felix  Holt  acts  ;  and  I  cannot 
but  think  the  light  comes  from  the  true  fount,  though  it  shines 
through  obstructions." 

■■'  You  have  not  seen  Mr.  Holt  since  Sunday,  have  you, 
father  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  lie  was  here  yesterday.  He  sought  ]\Ir.  Transome, 
having  a  matter  of  some  importance  to  speak  upon  with  him. 
And  i  saw  him  afterward  in  the  street,  when  hii  agreed  that  I 
should  call  for  him  this  morning  before  I  go  into  the  market- 
place. He  will  have  it,"  IMr.  Lyon  went  on,  smiling,  '-that  I 
must  not  walk  about  in  the  crowd  without  him  to  act  as  my 
s])ecial  constable." 

Esther  felt  vexed  with  herself  that  her  heart  was  sttddenly 
Ideating  with  ttnusual  epaickness,  and  that  her  last  resolution  not 
to  trouble  hersf-lf  aljout  what  Felix  thought,  had  transformed 
itself  with  magic  swiftness  into  mortification  that  he  evidently 
avoided  ('(uning  to  the  liouse  when  she  was  there,  tliough  he 
use(l  to  coiiii'  on  the  slightest  occasion.  He  knew  that  she 
was  always  at  home  tmtil  tla;  afternoon  on  market-days;  that 
\va-,  the  reason  wliy  lie  would  not  eall  for  her  father.  ( )f 
'•'iiii'S".  ;t  was  liecausf  he  attributed  such  littleness  to  her  that 
I."  -  uppfjsfMi  -lie  \v(;]ild  I'ctain  nothing  els<'  than  a  fct'liu',,'-  of 
(iffeiii'c  to'.\:ii'd-  him  lor  what  lie  had  said  to  her.  Sueli  distrust 
of  any  Lrnod  in  otln'i'.-.  such  arrfjgancc  of  immeasurabli/  superi- 
ority. \sa-  I'Xi  ii'iuclv  lUiLTcnerous.     7'Ut  presently  she  said  — 

"  I  shoul']  :;a.\r  liked  to  hear  Mr.  Transome  S])eak,  but  I 
suppose  It  i-  t;)(i  lat<'  to  get  a  jilace  noAV." 

"I  am  not  ^m-.';  1  ^vould  fain  have  you  go  if  you  desire  it, 
my  dear.'"  <ai'l  Mr.  b\-on.  wlio  eouid  not  b'-ar  to  doiiy  Esther 
iuy  lau'lul  \vi,-;i!.  ••  A'-'allc  with  ino  to  ?ilistress  Holt's,  and  we 
Aii:  Icaiai  i'loni  l'"'-;!;.;.  wiio  will  doulith'ss  already  have  been 
■Jut,  whether  he  eould  le;ul  vou  in  sjilctv  t(j  Friend  Lambert's." 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  205 

Esther  was  glad  of  the  pro]K)sa],  because,  if  it  answered  no 
other  purpose,  it  would  be  an  easy  way  of  obliging  Felix  to 
see  her,  and  of  shov.'ing  him  that  it  was  nut,  slu;  who  cherished 
olfenee.  lUit  when,  later  in  the  niorning,  she  was  walking 
towards  .Mrs.  Holt's  with  her  father,  tliey  met  Mr.  Jermyn, 
who  stopped  them  to  ask,  in  his  most  att'a'ole  manner,  whether 
Miss  Lyon  intended  to  hear  the  candidate,  and  whether  she 
had  secured  a  suitable  place.  And  he  ended  by  insisting  that 
his  daughters,  who  were  presently  coming  in  an  open  carriage, 
should  call  for  her,  if  she  would  })ermit  them.  It  was  impos- 
sible to  refuse  this  civility,  and  Esther  turned  back  to  await 
the  carriage,  pleased  with  the  certainty  of  hearing  and  seeing, 
yet  sorry  to  miss  Felix.  There  was  another  day  for  her  to  think 
of  him  with  unsatisiied  resentment,  mixed  with  some  longings 
fur  a  b(^tt(n'  understanding;  and  in  our  spring-time  every  day 
has  its  hidden  growl  lis  in  the  mind,  as  it  has  in  the  earth  when 
tlie  little  folded  blades  are  getting  ready  to  pierce  the  grouud- 


CITArTEII   XIX. 

Corsi^toiiry  '  — I  never  clianc^ed  my  iiiiuA 
Which  is,  :inil  ;il\v;i}s  \\:is,  Lo  live  at  i-ase. 

It  was  only  in  the  time  of  tJie  suiumer  fail's  that  the  mar 
k('t-}ila('e  had  ever  ]o(ik"(l  moiv  ;iiiini:il''il  lli;ni  it"  did  under 
tliat  autumn  mid-day  sun.  Tlicri'  were  ])lenty  ":'  blue  cock- 
adcs  laid  streamers,  laces  at  all  the  \\-iiiMn\vs,  and  ;i  ciaisliing 
buzzing  crowd,  urging  each  ollu  r  liai'l^ wards  and  inrwards 
rdund  tlie  small  liustings  in  (Vniit  of  tlie  Kam  Jnn,  which 
showed  its  nuir(^  iilrlnaan  sign  at  i-i;;-lit  angles  witli  tlu'  ven- 
eralilc  ^rarrpiis  oi'  (Iranliy.  Smn. ■times  tiu'i'c  were  scornful 
shouis,  sometimes  a  rdlling  caseaiie  of  cheers,  sumetirae-;  the 
shriek  of  a  ])enny  ^\•]li^tle :  Imt"  aiMi\<'  all  these  titinl  ami  ''ee^le 
sounds,   the   line  uld    chui'ch-tuw  ei,    which    louked   down    fj'i  tn 


206  ff:lix  holt,  the  radical. 

above  the  trees  on  the  other  side  of  the  narrow  stream,  sent 
vibrating,  at  every  quarter,  the  sonorous  tones  of  its  great 
bell,  the  Good  Qvieen  Bess. 

Two  carriages,  with  blue  ribbons  on  the  harness,  were  con- 
spicuous near  the  hustings.  One  was  Jermyn's,  filled  with  the 
in-illiantly  attired  daughters,  aceoni};aniud  by  Esther,  whose 
quieter  dress  helped  to  mark  her  out  for  attention  as  the  most 
striking  of  the  group.  Tlie  other  was  Harold  Transome's ; 
but  in  this  there  was  no  lady  — •  only  the  olive-skinned  Dom- 
inic. wh(jse  acute  yet  mild  faci.'  was  brightened  by  the  occupa- 
tion of  amusing  little  Harry  and  rescuing  from  his  tyrannies 
;i  King  Ch;irles  puppy,  with  big  eyes,  much  after  the  pattern 
of  the  boy's. 

This  Trebian  crovrd  did  not  count  for  much  in  the  political 
force  of  the  nation,  but  it  was  not  the  less  determined  as  to 
lending  or  not  lending  its  ears.  Xo  man  was  permitted  to 
speak  from  the  idatform  except  Harold  and  his  uncle  Lingon, 
thougli,  in  the  interval  of  expectation,  several  Liberals  had 
come  forward.  Among  these  ill-advised  })ersons  the  one  whose 
attempt  met  the  most  emphatic  resistance  was  Kufus  Lyon. 
This  might  have  bt^ui  taken  for  resentment  at  the  unreasona- 
bleness of  the  cloth,  that,  not  content  with  ]>ul}iits,  from 
whence  to  tyrannize  over  tlu;  ears  of  men,  wislics  to  have 
the  larger  share  ol'  the  platforms;  but  it  was  not  so,  for  INIr. 
Liiigdu  was  heai-d  witli  nmch  cheiu'ing,  and  would  have  been 
W(dcoiiie(l  again. 

'l"he  Kecior  of  Little  Treliv  liad  bcf^n  a  favorite  in  the  neigh- 
borliudd  since  the  beginning  of  the  Ci'nturv.  A  clergvman 
thoroiiglily  unelerical  in  his  liabits  had  a  jiifjuancy  about  him 
which  made  liini  a  s(jrt  of  practical  jwke.  JL'  had  always  been 
called  .laci-;  Lingon,  or  I'arson  .Tru-h  —  sometimes,  in  older 
and  less  Serious  days,  even  '•' Coek-ligiiting  -Tacl-:.""  He  swore  a 
little  \vh'-n  tlie  point  of  a  joke  seemed  to  demand  it,  and  was 
fond  of  Wf'iiing  a  eoloi'ed  liandann  tii'd  loos(-ly  over  his  cravat, 
together  wi;]i  lir,!,'"'  bi-own  l(Mtliir  ]e_;'gings ;  he  spoke  in  a 
]iitliy  familiar  w^iv  that  ]ieo{i].'  coald  understand,  and  liad 
none  of  tliat,  fii^lii  niineinLiiie.-^.s  '-abiM]  dignitv,  which  some 
have  thought  a  peculiar  clerical  disease,      lu  fact,  he  was  "a 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  207 

charicter"  —  sometliing  clieerful  to  think  of,  not  entirely  out 
of  connection  with  Sunday  and  sermons.  And  it  seemed  in 
keeping  that  he  sliouki  liave  turned  sliarp  round  in  politics, 
liis  o})inions  being  only  pai't  of  the  excellent  joke  called  Parson 
Jack.  Wli^n  his  red  eagle  face  and  white  hair  -were  seen  on 
tlie  platfiin  1,  the  Dissenters  hardly  cheered  this  cpiestionable 
Eadical ;  b' it  to  make  amends,  all  the  Tory  farmers  gave  him 
a  friendl}'  ''hurray."  *'  Let's  hear  what  old  Jack  will  say  for 
liimself,"  was  the  predominant  feeling  among  them;  "he'll 
have  something  funny  to  say,  I  '11  het  a  penny." 

It  was  only  Lawyi'r  hiibron's  young  clerks  and  their  hangers- 
on  who  were  sutiiciei;t'.y  dead  to  Trebian  traditions  to  assail 
the  jiarson  wilh  varinis  slKU'ji-edged  interjections,  such  as 
broken  shells,  and  cries  of  "Coek-a-doodlc-doo." 

'•Come  now,  my  lads,"  he  begnn.  in  his  full,  pompous,  yet 
jovial  tones,  thrusting  liis  liands  into  the  stuifed-out  pockets 
of  his  great-co;it,  '-I  '11  tell  you  what;  I  'm  a  pai'son,  you  know^; 
T  ought  to  return  good  iV)r  evil.  So  here  are  some  good  nuts 
for  you  to  crack  in  return  for  your  shells." 

There  was  a  roar  of  hiughtcu'  and  cheering  as  he  threw  hand- 
fuls  of  nuts  and  iilbei'ts  among  tlie  crowd. 

"Come  now,  you '11  say  I  usi'd  t'.)  be  a  Tory  ;  and  some  of 
you,  vhose  iVices  T  know  as  veil  as  I  know  tiie  head  of  my 
ow]i  ci'ab-stick,  will  say  that  's  wliy  T  'm  a  good  fellow.  But 
now  1  '11  tell  you  something  else.  It 's  for  tliat  veiy  reason  — 
that  T  useil  to  lie  ;l  Toi'v.  and  rim  a  good  fellow  —  that  I  go 
along  witli  my  nejiln'w  here,  who  is  a  tlior^ugh-going  Liberal. 
For  will  nnybe.dy  here  come  forward  au'i  say.  'A  good  fellow 
has  no  need  to  taeh  al;out  and  change  hi-  road'?  Xo,  there's 
not  one  of  you  such  a  T(v.n-nodd\'.  \'\"liat 's  good  for  one  time 
is  bad  for  another.  If  anybod\-  contradicts  that,  ask  him  to 
eat  ]tiekled  poi'k  Avhen  la^  's  tliii'sty.  and  to  bathe  in  the  Lajip 
tliere  wlien  tlie  s]>ikes  of  i(^e  are  shooting.  And  that's  the 
reason  v\diy  the  men  who  are  the  best  l.ibei'als  now  are  tlie 
vei'v  men  who  used  to  be  th(>  l)(>st  Tories.  There  is  n't  a 
na-tiei'  hoi-se  than  your  horse  tliat  "11  jib  and  back  and  tarn 
I'ound  when  there  is  but  one  road  tor  him  to  go,  and  that's 
the  road  before  him. 


208  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"And  my  nephew  here  —  he  comes  of  a  Tory  breed,  you 
know  —  I  "11  answer  for  the  Lingons.  In  the  okl  Tory  times 
there  Avas  never  a  pup  belonging  to  a  Lingon  but  woukl  howl 
if  a  AVhig  came  near  him.  The  Lingon  blood  is  good,  rich, 
old  Tory  blood  —  like  good  rich  milk  -  -  and  that's  why,  when 
the  right  time  comes,  it  throws  up  a  Liberal  cream.  The  best 
sort  of  Tory  turns  to  the  best  sort  of  liadical.  There  's  plenty 
of  Kadical  scum  —  I  say,  beware  of  the  scum,  and  look  out  for 
tlie  cream.  And  kere  's  my  nepkew  —  some  of  the  cream,  if 
there  is  any :  none  of  your  Whigs,  none  of  your  painted  water 
that  looks  as  if  it  ran,  and  it  "s  standing  still  all  the  while  ; 
none  of  your  spinning-jenny  fellows.  A  gentleman;  but  up 
to  all  sorts  of  business.  I  'm  no  fool  myself  ;  I  'm  forced  to 
wink  a  good  deal,  for  fear  of  seeing  too  much,  for  a  neighborly 
man  nuist  let  himself  be  cheated  a  little.  I'ut  though  I  've 
never  Innm  out  of  m}'  own  C(_)untry.  I  know  less  about  it  than 
my  nepliew  does.  You  may  tell  what  he  is,  and  only  look 
at  him.  There's  one  sort  of  fellow  sees  nothing  but  the  end 
of  liis  own  nose,  and  another  sort  that  sees  nothing  but  the 
liinder  side  of  the  moon  ;  but  my  nephew  Harold  is  of  another 
sort;  lie  sees  everything  that's  at  hitting  distance,  and  he 's 
not  one  to  miss  his  mark.  A  good-looking  man  in  his  prime! 
Not  a  gi'eciiliorii  ;  not  a  shrivelled  old  fellow,  who'll  come  to 
5])eak  to  you  and  find  he's  left  his  teeth  at  home  by  mistake. 
1  lai'old  'I'l-ansome  will  do  you  credit ;  if  anylxxly  says  tlie  Eadi- 
ciils  aro  a  set  of  sn(\iks.  l>rummagem  halfpenni(>s,  scamps  who 
wiuit  to  pliiy  jiitch-and-toss  witli  tlie  pi'operty  of  the  country, 
you  can  say.  'Look  at  the  member  foi'  North  Loamshire  ! ' 
AthI  iniiid  Avhat  you'll  liear  him  say;  he'll  go  in  hu-  nuik- 
iTig  cvci'ything  I'iglit  —  Lcior-laws  and  (.'luiritit\s  and  Church  — 
lie  wants  to  I'd'orm  "cm  all.  rrrha])s  you'll  say.  'There's 
ihrit  I'ai-son  Lingon  talking  about  Cluirch  Eeform — why,  he 
b''l(in'.:s  to  llii'  riiiircli  himself  —  he  wants  reforming  too.' 
^^^■ll.  well.  wait  a  Isit.  and  you  '11  hear  by-and-by  that  old 
J'arson  Lin'j:on  is  inLonned — slioots  no  more,  cracks  his  joke 
no  more,  hns  drnnk  his  last  bottle  :  the  dogs,  tlie  old  pointers, 
vill  V)e  sorry;  ])ut  you  '11  liear  tliat,  the  Larson  at  Little  Treby 
is  a  new  man.     That's  what  Church  Keform  is  sure  to  come 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  209 

to  before  long.  So  now  hero  are  some  more  nuts  for  you, 
lads,  and  I  leave  you  to  listen  to  your  candidate.  Here  he  is 
—  give  him  a  good  hurray ;  wave  vour  hats,  and  I  '11  begin. 
Hurray  ! '' 

Harold  had  not  been  quite  confident  beforehand  as  to  the 
good  effect  of  his  uncle's  introduction  ;  but  he  was  soon  re- 
assured. There  was  no  acrid  partisanship  among  the  old- 
fasliioned  Tories  who  mustered  strong  about  the  ^Marquis  of 
Granby,  and  Parson  Jack  had  put  them  in  a  good  humor. 
Harold's  only  interruption  came  from  his  own  party.  The 
oratorical  clerk  at  the  Factory,  acting  as  the  tribune  of  the 
Dissenting  interest,  and  feeling  bound  to  put  questions,  might 
have  been  troublesome ;  but  his  voice  being  unpleasantly  sharp, 
•while  Harold's  was  full  and  penetrating,  the  questioning  was 
cried  down.  Harold's  speech  "  did :  "'  it  was  not  of  the  glib- 
nonsensical  sort,  not  ponderous,  not  hesitating — which  is  as 
much  as  to  say,  that  it  was  remarkable  among  British  speeches. 
Read  in  print  the  next  day,  perlia})s  it  would  be  neither  preg- 
nant nor  conclusive,  wliicli  is  saying  no  more  than  that  its 
excellence  was  not  of  an  abnormal  kind,  but  sufli  as  is  usually 
found  in  the  best  efforts  of  eloquent  candidates.  Accord- 
ingly tht;  a})plause  drowned  the  oj)position,  and  content  pre- 
dominated. 

But,  perliaps,  the  moment  of  most  diffusive  pleasure  from 
public  sp'Tiking  is  tiiat  in  whicli  the  s])oech  ceases  and  tlie 
audience  can  turn  to  conuuenting  on  it.  Tlio  one  speech, 
sometimes  uttered  under  great  responsiljility  as  to  missiles 
and  other  consequences,  lias  giv(ui  a  text  to  tw(uity  speakers 
who  are  under  no  responsibility,  l^viui  in  tlie  <Iays  of  dut^l- 
ling  a  man  was  not  cliallenged  for  l)eiiig  a  bo:'(\  nor  doss  tliis 
e.uality  aiq'arently  iiiiider  hiiu  from  being  muck  invited  to 
ilinntu',  wliieh  \^:  llie  great  index  of  social  responsibility  in  a 
l;'ss  barbarous  ,"e.re. 

Certainly  tlie  crowd  in  tlie  market-place  seemed  to  cxjieri- 
cnce  tliis  culminat  in'_:  enjovuHM't  wlien  tlie  speaking  on  llei 
platform  in  front  of  tlio  L'am  had  ceased,  and  there  were  no 
less  than  thi'ep  orators  holding  forth  from  the  elevai'on  of 
chance  \'ehicles,  not  at  all  to  th'^  pr'^judice  of  the  talking 
vm:_,  tii.  U 


lUO  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

among  tliose  who  were  on  a  level  witli  their  neighbors.  There 
was  little  ill-hinnor  among  the  listeners,  for  Queen  Bess  was 
striking  tlie  last  quarter  before  two,  and  a  savory  smell  from 
the  inn  kitclicns  ins})irc(i  them  Avith  an  agreeable  conscious- 
ness that  the  speakers  were  hel})ing  to  tritle  away  the  brief 
time  before  dinner. 

Two  or  thi'ce  of  Harold's  committee  had  lingered  talking 
to  each  other  on  tiie  platfoi'm.  instead  of  re-entering ;  and 
Jermyn,  after  coming  out  to  s|)eak  to  one  of  them,  had  turned 
to  the  corner  near  wliich  the  carriages  were  standing,  that 
lie  might  tell  the  Transcjmes'  coachman  to  drive  round  to  the 
side  door,  and  signal  to  his  own  coachman  to  follow.  But  a 
dialogue  A\hich  was  g<-iing  on  below  induced  him  to  ])ause,  and, 
instead  of  giving  the  order,  to  assume  the  air  of  a  careless 
gazer.  Christian,  whom  the  attorney  had  already  obsin-ved 
looking  out  of  a  window  at  the  Mar(|uis  of  (Jranby,  was  talk- 
ing to  Dominic.  TIu;  meeting  appeared  to  be  one  of  new 
recognition,  for  ('hristian  Avas  saying  — 

"  You  "ve  not  got  gray  as  I  have,  'Mr.  Lenoni ;  you're  not  a 
day  older  for  the  sixteen  years.  But  no  wonder  you  did  n't 
know  me;  I  'm  bleached  like  a  dried  bone.'' 

"Xot  so.  It  is  true  I  was  confused  a.  meeiuite  —  I  could 
])ut  youi'  lace  nowhere;  Ijut  alter  that.  Naples  camt'  behind  it, 
and  I  said,  Mr.  Creestian.  And  so  you  reside  at  the  ]\[anor, 
and  T  am  at  Transf)nie  (Jourt." 

''  Ah  !  it's  a,  thousand  ])iti<'s  you're  not  on  our  side,  else  we 
might  liavc  dincil  together  at  the  Ab'irquis,"  said  Christian. 
"  VAi,  eouid  you  manage  it  ?  "  lie  added  languidly,  knowing 
thci'i'    \v;is   !io   cliancH'   of  a  yes. 

"No  —  mutdi  ol/iigcrl  —  could  n't  leave  the  leetle  1)0y.  Ahi  I 
Aia'v.  Ai-ry.  jijiirh  not  ])oor  ]\b)ro.'' 

^\'hill•  Dominic  Avas  answering,  Christi;in  hiid  stared  about 
him.  ;is  Ins  iiKniiMi'  was  when  he  was  l)eing  s])oken  to,  and  had 
had  his  eyes  arrested  by  l^sther,  who  was  leaning  forward 
to  look  at  Mr.  Jbiiold  d'ransome's  <\\'ti\'iordinary  little  gypsy 
of  a  son.  r>iit  happeiiiii'.^  to  meet  Clii'i^tiun's  stare,  she  f(;lt 
annoyed,  drew  ]ia(d-:,  :ind  turned  aw:!y  ][>■]■  liriid,  coloring. 

"Who  are  those  ladies?"  said  Chi'istian,  in  alow  tone,':) 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  211 

Dominic,  as  if  lie  had  been  startled  into  a  sudden  wish  for 
this  information. 

"  Thoy  arc  Meester  Jermvn's  daughters,"  said  Dominic,  who 
knew  nothing  cither  of  the  lawyer's  family  or  of  Esther. 

Christian  looked  puzzled  a  moment  or  two,  and  was  silent. 

"'Oh,  well  —  au  revolr,^'  he  said,  kissing  the  tips  of  his 
lingers,  as  the  coachman,  having  had  Jermyn's  order,  began 
to  urge  on  the  horses. 

"  Does  he  see  some  likeness  in  the  girl  ?  "  thought  Jermyn, 
as  he  turned  away.  "■  I  wish  I  had  n't  invited  her  to  come  iu 
the  carriage,  as  it  happens." 


CHAPTER   XXo 

"Good  earthenware  pitcliers,  sir! — of  an  excellent  quaint  pattern  and 
soiiiber  tolor." 

Thf  market  dinner  at  '-the  Marquis  "  was  in  high  repute  in 

Tivliv  ;!M(1  its  neighljorhood.  TIk^  l're(paentt'rs  of  this  three- 
and-sixjx'nny  ordinary  liked  to  iiJlu'lc  to  it.  as  men  allude  to 
aiiytliing  \vl)icli  implies  that  they  move  in  good  society,  and 
habiiually  converse  with  those  who  are  in  the  secret  of  the 
highest  affairs.  The  guests  were  not  only  such  rural  residents 
as  had  (h'iven  to  ni;irket,  but  sonu^  of  the  most  substantial 
townsmen,  wlio  hafl  always  assured  theii  wives  tliat  business 
recpiired  this  weekly  saerilice  of  domestic*  pleasui-e.  The 
])oorer  faianers.  wlio  ])ut  up  at  tlie  JJam  or  the  Seven  Stars, 
wliei'(;  tliere  was  no  iisli,  i'elt  their  disadvantage,  bearing  it 
modestly  or  bitterly,  as  the  cast'  miglit  be  ;  and  although  the 
l^blr([uis  was  a  Tory  lionse.  devoted  to  Debarry.  it  was  too 
mucli  to  expect  that  such  tenanls  of  the  Transomes  as  had 
always  been  used  to  dine  there,  sliould  eoiiscnt  to  eat  a  worse 
dinner,  and  sit  v.'iih  \V(.)rse  I'ompan}'.  l)ecause  they  suddenly 
foi'.iid  thi'niselves  under  a  b'adieal  landlord,  opposed  to  the  po- 
litical party  known  as  Sir  Abixim's.     Hence  the  recent  political 


212  FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL. 

divisions  had  not  reduced  the  handsome  length  of  tlic  table 
at  the  ^Marquis  ;  and  the  many  gradations  of  dignity — -from 
Mr.  Wace,  the  brewer,  to  the  rich  butcher  from  Leek  Mai  ton, 
who  always  modestly  took  the  lowest  seat,  though  without  the 
reward  of  being  asked  tfj  come  up  higher  —  had  not  been  abbre- 
viated by  any  secessions. 

To-day  there  was  an  extra  table  sprpad  for  expected  super- 
numeraries, and  it  was  at  this  that  Christian  took  his  place 
with  some  of  the  younger  farmers,  who  liad  almost  a  sense  of 
dissipation  in  tallying  to  a  man  of  his  questionable  station  and 
unknown  experience.  The  provision  was  especiall}'  liberal, 
and  on  the  vrliole  the  })resenee  of  a  minority  destined  to  vote 
for  Transom(>  was  a  ground  for  joking,  v^liich  added  to  the 
good-humor  of  tlie  chief  talkers,  A  respectable  old  acquaint- 
ance turned  Lladical  ratlicr  against  his  will,  was  rallied  with 
even  greater  gusto  than  if  his  wife  had  had  twins  twice  over. 
The  best  Trebian  Tories  were  far  too  sweet-blooded  to  turn 
against  such  old  friends,  and  to  make  no  distinction  between 
them  and  tlie  Radical,  Dissenting,  Papistical,  Dcistical  set 
with  whom  they  never  dinefl.  and  probably  never  saw  except 
in  their  imagination.  ISut  the  talk  was  necessarily  in  abey- 
ance until  the  more  s^'rious  business  of  dinner  vras  ended,  and 
the  wine,  spirits,  and  tobacco  raised  mere  satisfaction  into 
bt-alitudc. 

Amniig  till'  frequent  though  not  regular  guests,  whom  every 
one  v/as  glad  ;o  s^e,  was  Mr.  Xolan,  the  retired  T^oudon  hosier, 
a  wiiy  old  gentleman  past  seventy,  whose  square  tiglit  fore- 
he;id.  v.-itli  its  rin'id  hedgt;  of  gray  haii',  whosr^  bushy  ex'ebi'ows. 
sharp  d:irk  fv.  s,  and  rriiirirk;d»le  hooki'd  nose,  gave  a  liand- 
sonii'  distiiicti'M)  to  his  fa''*'  in  the  midst  of  rural  physiogno- 
mies. ]\r  li;;d  ia;!i'ri"d  a  l\liss  rfudrcil  early  in  lii'c,  wlicn  he 
was  a  pool'  yoiue^^  Lf)iidon<M'.  and  the  match  had  bi^C'ii  thought 
as  bad  as  ri)i)i  by  Iht  family;  but  liftt'eii  years  ago  lie  luel  had 
tilt'  satisfrietioM  of  bringing  his  wife  io  settle  amongst  her  own 
frieii'ls.  and  of  be-in;::  received  with  ]nide  as  a  brot]ier-in-law, 
retired  from  buiine-;,  possr'ssed  of  unknown  thousands,  and 
of  ;i  most  agrec;d'le  t.dejit  for  aiieed.rif .■  and  conversation  g(-n- 
trally.     No  question    hud   ever  been   raised  as  to  Mr.  Nolan's 


FELIX   HOLT,    THP:   RADICAL.  213 

extraction  on  the  strength  of  his  hooked  nose,  or  of  his  name 
being  r>an;ch.  Hebrew  names  "ran  "  in  the  best  Saxon  fami- 
lies ;  the  lUbh:'  accounted  for  them  ;  and  no  one  among  the 
uplands  and  liedgerows  of  that  district  was  suspected  of  hav- 
ing an  Oriental  origin  unless  he  carried  a  })edler's  jewel-box. 
Certainly,  whatever  genealogical  research  might  ha.ve  discov- 
ered, the  worthy  Baruch  Nolan  was  so  free  from  any  distinc- 
tive marks  of  religious  persuasion  —  he  went  to  church  Avith 
so  ordinary  an  irregularity,  and  so  often  grumbled  at  the  ser- 
iiu)n  —  that  there  was  no  ground  for  classing  him  otherwise 
than  with  good  Trebian  Churchmen.  He  was  generally  re- 
garded as  a  good-looking  old  gentleman,  and  a  certain  thin 
eagerness  in  his  as})ect  was  attributed  to  the  life  of  the  me- 
tropolis, where  narrow  space  had  the  same  sort  of  effect  on 
men  as  on  thickly  }»lanted  trees.  Mr.  Xolan  always  ordered 
his  pint  of  port,  which,  after  he  had  sipped  it  a  little,  was 
wont  to  animate  Ins  recollections  of  the  Royal  Family,  and 
the  various  mini^-'tries  which  had  been  contemporarj'"  with  the 
successive  stages  of  his  ])rospierity.  He  was  always  listeninl 
to  with  int(M'est  :  a  man  who  had  l)een  born  in  the  year  when 
good  old  King  George  came  to  the  throne — who  had  been 
acquainted  with  the  nude  leg  (jf  the  Prince  IJegent.  and  hinted 
at  private  reasons  for  believing  that  the  Princess  Charlotte 
ought  not  to  ]i;'ve  died  —  had  conversiitional  matter  as  special 
to  his  auditors  as  ]\Iarco  Pohj  C(Kild  have  had  on  his  return 
from  Asiatic  travel. 

•^'^My  good  sir."  lit^  said  to  Mr.  Wa_ce.  as  he  crossed  his  knees 
and  spread  his  silk  haiudkerchit^f  over  them,  ■•'  Transome  may  be 
returned,  or  lu^  may  not  be  I'elnrned  —  that's  a  question  for 
North  Ldamshire;  hut  it  makes  little  difference  to  the  king- 
dom. I  don't  want  to  say  things  which  may  put  younger  men 
out  of  spirits,  but  1  believe  this  country  has  seen  its  best  days 
--  T  do  indeed."' 

'•I  am  soi'i'v  to  h(\ar  it  fr(un  'uie  of  your  experience,  '^^r.  No- 
lan." said  the  bi'cwer,  a  large  happy-lodking  man.  '•  T  M  make 
a  good  tight  myself  before  I  M  leave  ;t  woi'se  world  for  my 
bi-iys  than  1  've  luinid  tor  !ii\sflt'.  'I'here  is  n't  a  gi'^-ater  ]ileas- 
ure  than  doing  .t  bit  of  planting  and  improvuig  one's  buildings. 


214  FELIX  HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

and  investing  one's  money  in  some  pretty  acres  of  land,  when 
it  turns  up  here  and  there — land  you  've  known  from  a  boy. 
It 's  a  nasty  thought  that  these  Radicals  are  to  turn  things 
round  so  as  one  can  calculate  on  nothing.  One  does  n't  like  it 
for  one's  self,  and  one  doesn't  like  it  for  one's  neighbors.  But 
somehow,  I  believe  it  won't  do  :  if  we  can't  trust  the  Govern- 
ment just  now,  there  's  Providence  and  the  good  sense  of  the 
countr}- ;  and  there  's  a  right  in  things  —  that  's  what  I  've 
always  said  —  there's  a  right  in  things.  The  heavy  end  will 
get  downmost.  And  if  Church  and  King,  and  every  man  being 
sure  of  his  own,  are  things  good  for  this  country,  there  's  a 
God  above  will  take  care  of  'em." 

"  It  won't  do,  my  dear  sir,"  said  ]Mr.  Xolan  —  ''  it  won't  do. 
When  Peel  and  the  Duke  turned  ]'0und  about  the  Catholics  in 
'29,  I  saw  it  was  all  over  with  us.  We  could  never  trust 
ministers  any  more.  It  was  to  keep  off  a  rebellion,  they  said ; 
but  I  say  it  was  to  keep  their  places.  They  're  monstrously 
fond  of  place,  both  of  them  —  that  I  know."  Here  Mr. 
Xolau  changed  the  crossing  of  his  legs,  and  gave  a  deep  cough, 
conscious  of  having  made  a  point.  Then  he  went  on —  '•  What 
we  want  is  a  king  with  a  good  will  of  his  own.  If  we  'd  liad 
that,  we  should  n"t  have  heard  what  we  've  heard  to-day ; 
Peform  would  never  have  eonio  to  this  pass.  When  our 
good  old  King  George  the  Third  heard  his  ministers  talking 
;i!)Out  Catholii;  Euuincii);ition,  ho  boxed  their  ears  all  round. 
All.  poor  sijuI  !  he  <liil  iiiih'ed.  gentlemen,"  ended  Mr.  Xolan, 
shiTken  by  ;i  di-ep  laugii  of  admiration. 

''  AW'lh  now,  th,"t  "s  something  like  a  king,"  said  INIr.  Crowd- 
er,  Avho  was  an  C'agfr  li>tener. 

"It  was  nneivih  though.  How  did  they  take  it?"  said 
]'irr.  Timoth}'  INx  e.  ;i  ••  eentleraan  farmer'"  from  Leek  Malton, 
against  vdiosc  inrlepf  ndent  ])Osition  natni'e  had  provided  the 
safeguard  of  a  s]i')ntane(jus  servility.  His  large  porcine 
cheeks,  round  twiidding  eyes,  and  thumljs  habitually  twirling, 
expressed  a  eoneenliated  effort  not  to  get  into  trouble,  and 
to  speak  everybody  (air  excr-pt  when  they  were  safely  oiat  of 
hearing. 

"  Take  it !  they  'd  be  obliged  to  take  it,"  said  the  impeiuouc 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  215 

young  Joyce,  a  farmer  of  superior  information.  '*  Have  you 
ever  liearcl  of  the  king's  prerogative  ?  " 

''I  don't  say  but  what  I  have/''  said  Kose,  retreating. 
"I  've  nothing  against  it  —  nothing  at  all." 

"No,  but  the  Kadicals  have,"'  said  young  Joyce,  winking. 
"The  prerogative  is  what  they  want  to  clip  close.  They 
want  us  to  be  governed  by  delegates  from  the  trades-unions, 
who  are  to  dictate  to  everybody,  and  make  everything  square 
to  tlieir  mastery." 

''  Tliey  're  a  pretty  set,  now,  those  delegates,"  said  Mr. 
\\''ace,  with  disgust.  "  I  once  heard  two  of  'em  spouting  away. 
They  're  a  sort  of  fellow  I  'd  never  employ  iu  my  brewery, 
or  anywhere  else.  I  've  seen  it  again  and  again.  If  a  man 
takes  to  tongue-work  it's  all  over  with  him.  'Everything's 
wrong,'  says  he.  That 's  a  big  text.  But  does  he  want  to 
make  everything  right?  Not  he.  He 'd  lose  his  text.  'We 
want  every  man's  good,'  say  they.  Why,  they  never  knew 
yet  what  a  man's  good  is.  How  should  they  ?  It 's  working 
for  his  victual  —  not  getting  a  slice  of  other  people's." 

"Ay,  ay,''  said  young  Joyce,  cordially.  "I  should  just 
have  liked  all  the  drlogates  in  the  country  mustered  for  our 
yeomanry  to  go  into  —  that 's  all.  They  'd  see  where  the 
strength  of  ( )ld  England  lay  then.  You  may  tell  wliat  it  is 
iV)r  a  country  to  trust  to  trade  when  it  breeds  such  spindling 
fellows  as  those.'' 

"  That  is  n't  the  fault  of  trade,  my  good  sir,"  said  ^Vfr. 
Xolan,  who  was  often  a  little  pained  by  tiie  defects  of  pro- 
vincial culture.  "Trade,  ])ro]ierly  conducted,  is  good  f(n'  a 
man's  constitution.  I  could  have  shown  you,  in  my  time, 
^veavers  jiast  seventy,  with  all  their  facailties  as  shar]>  as  a 
]ieii-knit"e,  doing  without  s])ect;irli's.  It's  the  new  system  of 
tiade  that's  to  blanif  :  acdun'i'v  can't  liave  too  niucii  tradt' 
it  it's  ]iroperlv  inanaged.  I'leiify  of  sound  Tories  have 
made  their  fortune  by  trade.  \'on  "ve  heard  of  Calibut  iS; 
Co. — everybody  has  heard  ol'  Calibut.  ^\'ell.  sir,  I  knew 
old  ^Ir.  Cidibut  ;■>  well  as  I  l-a;i:-.s'  you.  lie  wa-^  once  a  crony 
of  mini>  in  a  city  warehouse  :  :mi!1  how,  I  '11  answer  for  it.  he 
has  a  larger  rent-roll  than   Lord   W'yvern.     ]]less  your  soul ! 


216  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

his  subscri]-)tions  to  charities  would  make  a  fine  income  for  a 
nobleman.  And  he's  as  good  a  Tory  as  1  am.  And  as  for 
his  town  (!stablishment  —  why,  how  much  butter  do  you  think 

is  consumed  there  annually  ?  " 

Mr.  iS'olan  paused,  and  then  his  face  glowed  with  triumph 
as  he  answered  his  own  (question.  ''Why,  gentlemen,  not  less 
tlian  two  thousand  pounds  of  butter  during  the  few  months 
tin;  fanuly  is  in  town  !  Trade  makes  property,  my  good  sir, 
and  property  is  Conservative,  as  tliey  say  now.  Calibut's 
son-in-law  is  Lord  I'ortinbras.  He  ])aid  me  a  large  debt  on 
his  marriage.  It 's  all  one  web,  sir.  The  prosperity  of  the 
country  is  one  web." 

''To  be  sure,"  said  Christian,  wlio,  smoking  his  cigar  with 
liis  chair  turned  away  from  tlie  t;il)lc,  was  willing  to  nuxke 
liimself  agreeable  in  tJie  conversation.  "  We  can't  do  without 
nobility.  Look  at  France.  When  they  got  ritl  of  the  old 
nobles  they  were  obliged  to  nuike  new." 

''True,  very  true,"  said  J\Ir.  Xolan,  who  thought  Christian 
a  little  too  wise  for  his  position,  but  could  not  resist  the  rare 
gift  of  an  instance  in  point.  "It's  the  French  lievolution 
that  has  done  us  harm  here.  It  was  the  same  at  the  end  of 
the  last  century,  Imt  tlic  war  kept  it  off  —  Mr.  ]*itt  saved  us. 
T  knew  ^Ir.  Vitt.  I  had  a  pai'ticular  interview  Avith  liim  once. 
lie  joked  me  al)Out  getting  the.  length  of  his  i'oot.  'Mr. 
.Nolan,'  said  lie,  '  thei-e  are  those  on  th(>,  other  side  of  the 
wat(!i'  whose  na,ni(>  begins  with  N.  wlio  wouhl  be  glad  to  know 
w'IkU,  \-ou  Isiiow.'  1  was  recommended  to  send  an  account  f)f 
Lliat  i,o  liie  iiewspa]jei's  after  Ids  dentli,  pooi-  man!  but  I'm 
not  lonil  o!'  liiai.  kind  ol'  shoAV  mysell."  Mr.  Nolan  swung  liis 
upper  leu  a  little,  and  pinelied  liis  lip  between  liis  tluunh  and 
flngei'.  nat.iirally  pk'ased  with  his  own  moderation. 

">.'o.  no  —  very  right,''  said  Mr.  Wa.ce,  coi'dially.  "  l-Jut 
you  iKiver  said  a  ti'uer  woi'd  than  that  about  })i'opei'ty.  If  a 
man  's  got  a  bit  of  property,  n  stake  in  tlic^  counti'v.  h(^ '11  want 
to  km'])  things  s(p;a,re.  Whei'(!  fJaek'  isn't  safe.  'I'om 's  in 
danger.  P>ut  that  's  what  nudvcs  it  su(;h  an  uncommoidy 
]ia^t_y  tliiiig  that  a  man  like  Transome  should  take  u])  with 
tht.'se    Itadicals.      It's   my    belief  he  does   it  onl\'  to  g(^t  into 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  217 

Parliament :  he  '11  turn  round  wlien  he  jrets  there.  Come, 
Uihbs,  there's  something  to  put  you  in  spirits,"  athl(!(l  Mr. 
Wace,  raising  his  voice  a  little  and  looking  at  a  guest  lower 
down.  "  You  've  got  to  vote  for  a  Kadical  with  one  side  of 
your  mouth,  and  make  a  wry  face  with  tlie  other ,  but  he  '11 
■':urn  round  by-and-by.  As  Parson  Jack  says,  he  "s  got  the 
right  sort  of  blood  in  him." 

"  I  don't  care  two  straws  who  I  vote  for,"  said  Dibbs, 
sturdily.  "I^n  not  going  to  make  a  wry  face.  It  stands  to 
reason  a  man  should  vote  for  his  landlord.  ]\[y  farm  's  in 
good  condition;  and  I  've  got  the  best  pasture  on  the  estate. 
'I'hc  rot 's  never  CAnuv  nigh  me.  Let  them  grumble  as  are  on 
the  wrong  side  of  the  hedge." 

''  I  wonder  if  ffermyn  "11  bring  him  in,  though,"  said  Mv.  Sir 
comi'.  the  great  miUer.  '-'He  's  an  uncommon  fellow  for  carry 
ing  tlungs  through.  I  know  he  brought  me  through  that  suit 
about  my  weir  ;  it  cost  a  ])rett3'  ]jeuny,  but  he  brought  me 
through." 

'■It 's  a  bit  of  a  ]ull  for  him,  too,  having  to  turn  Kadical," 
said  'Slv.  "Wace.  '■  Tlu'v  say  lu>  counted  on  making  friends 
with  Sir  jMaximus.  by  this  young  one  coming  home  and  join- 
ing with  Mr.  Philip." 

"  P.ut  I'll  bet  a  ])enny  he  brings  Ti'ansome  in,"  said  Mr. 
Sircome.  ''  I'olks  say  he  nas  n't  got  many  votes  herc-aboul  ; 
but  towards  DutHeld.  and  all  there.  \vliei'(>  the  Radicals  are, 
evei'vbody  "s  for  him.  Eh.  Mr.  Chrisl  ian  ?  Come  —  you're 
at.  tlie  founiainhead  —  what  do  tlie\  say  about  it  now  at  the 
Maiio!'  ?  "' 

\\"h(>n  genei'al  attention  vras  called  to  (/hristian,  young 
•loN'ee  looked  down  at  his  own  legs  and  toucdied  ihe  eiirves  of 
his  own  hair,  as  if  nn^asmlng  his  own  ajipro.xiination  lo  that 
correct  copy  of  a  gentleman.  Mr.  Wace  turned  his  liead  to 
listen  for  Christi;in"s  answer  with  that  tolerance  of  iuferiorit} 
whicdi  liecomes  mvii  in  pbices  ol  ;)ublie  resort. 

"They  think  it  will  be  a  lianl  i-uii  iietween  'I'ransoiiie  and 
Garstin."  said  (/hristian.  '•  ll  depends  on  Transome's  getting 
plunijiers.'' 

"Well,  I  know  1  shall  not  solii  for  Garstin,""  said  .Mi'   Wace. 


■J18  FELIX    HOLT,    THE    RADICAL. 

*•'  It 's   nonsense    for   Debarry's  voters  to   split   for  a   Whig, 
A  man  '"s  either  a  Tory  or  not  a  Tory."' 

"  It  seems  reasonable  there  should  be  one  of  each  side," 
said  Mr.  Timothy  Eose.  "I  don't  like  showing  favor  either 
way.  If  one  side  can't  lower  the  poor's  rates  and  take  off  the 
tithe,  let  the  other  try." 

'•  But  there  's  tliis  in  it,  Wace,"  said  ^Mr.  Sircome.  ''  I  'm 
not  altogetlier  against  the  Whigs.  Tor  they  don't  want  to  go 
so  far  as  the  Radicals  do,  and  when  they  find  they  "ve  slipped 
a  bit  too  far,  they  "11  hold  on  all  the  tighter.  And  the  Whigs 
have  got  the  upper  liand  now,  and  it  "s  no  use  lighting  with 
the  current.     I  run  with  the  —  " 

.Mr.  Sircome  cliecked  himself,  looked  furtively  at  Christian, 
and,  to  divert  criticism,  ended  with  —  '■  eli,  Mr.  Xolaii  '.' "' 

"  There  have  been  eminent  Whigs,  sir.  Mr.  Fox  was  a 
Whig,-"  said  ]\rr.  Xoian.  '-  Mr.  Fox  was  a  great  orator.  He 
ganibb'd  a  good  deal.  He  was  very  intimate  witii  tu(^  Prince 
of  AVales.  I  "vc  seen  him,  and  the  Duke  of  York  too.  go 
homo  by  daylight  witli  their  hats  crushed.  Mr.  Fox  was  a 
great  L-ader  of  Opposition  :  Go^■ernment  requires  an  Opposi- 
tion. The  Whigs  should  always  be  in  opposition,  and  the 
Toi'if'S  on  tilt'  ministerial  side.  Tliat's  what  tliC  country  used 
to  like.  'The  Wliigs  for  salt  and  mustard,  the  Tories  for 
merit.'  Mr.  Gottlib  the  banker  used  to  say  to  me.  Mr.  Gottlib 
was  a  worthy  man.  When  therti  Avas  a  gi'eat  run  on  (iottlil/s 
Ijank  in  'V>.  I  san-  a  gentleman  come  in  A\-ilh  l):;u's  of  gold,  and 
say,  -Tell  Mr.  (iottlib  there 's  ])lenty  moi'e  where  that  came 
from."      It  :-toppe(l  tli('  run.  gentlemen  —  ir  riiij  iii'leed."' 

This  an-cilolc  was  r(.'ceive(l  with  greiit  admiration,  l^ut  Mr. 
Sircome  r^'turned  to  the  pi'evif)us  questi(jn. 

'■Tiiere  now,  }'ou  see,  Wiiee  —  it's  right  there  sliould  be 
Wliigs  as  v.-e]]  ;is  Tories — l-'it  and  j'"(jx  -  1  've  always  heard 
them   go  tfjgether."' 

'•AVell,  I  don't  like  (Jarstiii."  sai<l  the  brewer.  "I  did  n't 
like  his  condnel  rdiou;  the  ('anal  (joaipany.  Of  the  two,  I 
like  Transome  o.-^t.  II  a  nag  ;s  if;  throw  me.  I  say,  let  liim 
have  some  Ijhjod." 

'•As    for  bl<;od.    Wace.'-'    said    Mr.    ^Salt.   the    wool-factor,   a 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE  RADICAL.  219 

bilious  man,  who  only  spoke  when  there  was  a  good  oppoiv 
tuuity  of  contradicting,  "ask  my  brother-in-law  Labron  a  little 
abont  that.     These  Transonies  are  not  the  old  blood." 

"  Well,  they 're  the  oldest  that's  fortliconiing,  I  suppose," 
said  ]\Lr.  Wace,  laughing.  '•  Unless  j^on  believe  in  mad  old 
Tuuuuy  Trounsein.  I  wonder  where  that  old  poaching  fellow 
is  now." 

"  I  saw  him  half-drunk  tlie  other  day,"  said  young  Joyce. 
*•'  He  'd  got  a  flag-basket  with  handbills  in  it  over  his 
shoulder." 

"  I  thought  the  old  fellow  was  dead,"  said  Mr.  Wace. 
"Hey  !  why,  Jerniyn,"'  he  went  on  merrily,  as  he  turned  round 
and  saw  the  attorney  entering;  ''-you  Kadical  I  how  dare  you 
show  yourself  in  this  Tory  house  ?  Come,  this  is  going  a  bit 
too  far.     We  don't  mind  Old  Harry  managing  our  law  for  us 

—  that's  his  proper  business  iioni  time  imuunnorial;  but — " 
"But  —  a  —  "  said  Jcrmyu.  smiling,  always   ready  to  carry 

on  a  joke,  to  which  his  slow  manner  gave  the  picpiancy  of 
sur[)ri^e,  ••  if  he  meddles  witli  politics  lie  must  be  a  Tory." 

Jeruiyn  was  not  afraid  to  show  himself  anywhere  in  Treb}'. 
He  knew  many  people  were  not  exactly  fond  of  him,  but  a 
man  can  do  witliout  that,  ii'  lie  is  pros[)erous.  A  provincial 
lawyer  in  tliose  old-fasliioned  days  was  as  independent  of 
personal  esteem  as  if  lu^  liad  been  a  Lord  Cliancellor. 

T'here  was  a  good-humored  laugh  at  this  ujiiKa*  end  of  the 
room  as  Jcrmyu  seatcil  liimsclf  at  about  an  equal  angle  be- 
tween  Mr.  A\'ac(i  and  Cliristi;ui. 

'•' Wc  were  talking  about  old  'I'ommy  Trounsem  ;  you  re- 
member him  ?  They  say  he  's  turned  u})  again,"  said  j\Ir. 
AVace. 

"Ah?"  said  Jermyn.  indifi'eiviitly.  "' l^ut  —  a  —  Wace — 
I  "m  very  busy  to-day  —  but  I  wanted  to  see  you  about  tliat 
bit  of  land  of  yours  at  the  corner  of  I'od's  bhid.  I  've  had  a 
li,t.;:lson)e  offer  !'or  you  —  I'm  not  at  lilicrty  to  say  from  whom 

—  but  an  cifer  tJiat  ought  to  tempt  you." 

"'It  won't  tiunpt  me.''  said  Mr.  Wace.  iterenij.tni-ily  ;  ■•if 
I  'vc  get  a  bit  of  laud,  1  'II  keep  it.  It  's  hard  enough  to  get 
herealiuuts." 


220  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

"  Then  I  'm  to  understand  that  you  refuse  all  negotiation  ?  " 

said  Jennyn,  who  had  ordered  a  glass  of  sherry,  and  was 
lookiiig-  vound  slowly  as  he  sipped  it,  till  his  eyes  seemed  to 
rest  for  the  lirst  time  on  Christian,  though  he  liad  seen  him  at 
once  (in  entering  the  room. 

"Unless  one  of  the  confounded  railways  should  come.  But 
then  I  "11  stand  out  and  make  'em  bleed  for  it." 

There  was  a  murmur  of  approbation;  the  railways  were  a 
public  wrong  much  denunciated  in  Treby. 

'•  A  —  Mr.  I'hilip  Debarry  at  the  !Manor  now  ? "  said 
Jermyn,  suddcidy  questioning  Christian,  in  a  haughty  tone  of 
supcriorit}'  Avhich  he  often  chose  to  use. 

"  Xo,'"  said  Christian,  ''  he  is  expected  to-morrow  morning." 

'•  Ah  I  —  "  Jermyn  paused  a  moment  or  two,  and  tlien  said, 
"You  are  suificiently  in  his  confidenco,  I  tliink,  to  ca-rry  a 
message  to  him  with  a  small  document  ?  " 

"  ]\Ir.  Debarry  has  often  trusted  me  so  far,"  said  Christian, 
with  much  coolness ;  "  but  if  the  business  is  yours,  you  can 
l)robab]y  lind  some  one  you  know  better." 

There  was  a  little  winking  and  grimacing  among  those  of 
the  company  who  heard  this  answer. 

"A  —  true — a."  said  Jermyn,  not  showing  any  offence; 
"if  ycnx  decline.  J>ut  1  think,  if  you  will  do  me  the  favor  to 
stej)  round  to  my  residence  on  your  way  back,  and  learn  the 
business,  you  will  jirefer  carrying  it  yourself.  At  my  resi- 
dence, if  you   ])h>ase  —  not  my   ofiice." 

'•  < 'li.  vei'y  well."  said  Christian.  '■  I  shall  be  very  happy." 
Cliristian  nevei'  allowcnl  liimseli'  to  be  treated  as  a  servant  by 
any  one  but^  his  master,  and  Ids  master  treated  a  servant  more 
derer(nitially  than  an  equal. 

"Will  it  be  live  o'clock?  wliat  hour  shall  we  say?"  said 
Jermyn. 

Cliri>ti:ni  looked  at  his  watcli  and  said,  "About  five  I  can 
be  there." 

"Yory  good."  s;iiil  Jermvn,  finishing  liis  sherry. 

"  Well  -  -  a — Waee — a  —  so  you  will  hear  nothing  about 
]'od"sEnd?" 

"  Xot  I." 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE  KADICAL.  221 

"A  mere  pocket-handkercliief,  not  enough  to  swear  by  — 
a  —  "  liure  Jurmyn's    face  broke  into   a  smile  —  "without  a 

magnifyi]ig-glass." 

''Never  niind.  It's  mine  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth  and 
up  to  the  sky.  I  can  build  the  Tower  of  Babel  on  it  if  I  like 
—  eh,  ^Ir.  Xolan  ?  " 

"  A  bad  investment,  my  good  sir,"  said  ^Iv.  Nolan,  who  en- 
joyed a  certain  flavor  of  infidelity  in  this  smart  I'Cjjly,  and 
laughed  nuudi  at  it  in  his  inward  way. 

'•  See  now,  how  blind  you  Tories  arc/'  said  Jermyn,  rising; 
"if  I  had  been  your  lawyer,  I  'd  have  had  you  make  another 
forty-shilling  freeholder  with  that  land,  and  all  in  time  for 
this  election.  But  —  a  —  the  verhum  saj)ientiljus  comes  a  little 
too  late  now." 

Jermyn  was  moving  away  as  he  finished  speaking,  but  Mr. 
"VVaee  called  out  after  him,  "  We  're  not  so  badly  off  for  votes 
as  you  are  —  good  sound  votes,  that  "11  stand  the  Eevisiug 
Barrister.     Debar ry  at  the  top  of  the  poll  !  " 

The  lawyer  was  already  out  of  the  doorway. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

'Tis  c^rievoiif:,  that  with  all  ainidification  of  travel  both  by  sea  and  land, 

a  man  can  nuN  er  separate  himself  from  his  ])ast  historv. 

^Ik.  Jki;.mvn's  handsome  house  stood  a  little  way  out  of 
the  town,  surrounded  by  garden  autl  lawn  and  ])lantatious  of 
hupt'lul  trees.  As  Christian  njinroachod  it  he  was  in  a  per- 
iectly  easy  state  of  mind;  tlie  busiiu'ss  he  was  going  on  was 
none  of  liis.  otherwise  tlian  as  lie  was  well  satisfied  witli  any 
opportunity  of  making  hiniseli'  valuable  to  ]\rr.  I^hilip  Di-barry. 
As  he  lool^ed  at  Jerniyn's  lenglli  oi'  wall  and  iron  railiuii.  he 
said  to  himself,  •■  T>,ese  hnvyers  ai'e  tiie  fellows  for  getting  on 
in  the   worul   \ulii    ti;e   ]r:\>\    .xpraise  of    civility.      With    thi:. 


--2  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

cursed  conjuring  secret  of  theirs  called  Law,  tliey  think  every- 
body is  frightened  at  them.  My  Lord  Jerinyn  seems  to  have 
his  insolence  as  ready  as  his  soft  sa^vder.  He  "s  as  sleek  as  a 
rat,  and  has  as  vicious  a  tooth.  I  know  the  sort  of  vermin 
well  cnougli.     I  "ve  helped  to  fatten  one  or  two." 

In  this  mood  of  conscious,  conttnnptuous  penetration,  Chris- 
tian was  shown  ny  the  footman  into  Jernn'n's  private  room, 
where  tiie  attorney  sat  surrounded  with  massive  oaken  book- 
cases, and  other  furniture  to  correspond,  from  the  thickest- 
legged  library-table  to  the  calendar  frame  and  card-rack.  It 
Avas  tlie  sort  of  room  a  num  prepares  for  hims^df  when  he  feels 
sure  of  a  long  and  rc-sp'>ctable  future.  He  was  leaning  back 
in  his  leatlier  chair,  ;ig:dn.st  the  bro;ul  window  opi'uing  on  the 
lav/n,  and  liad  ju.^t  taken  off  his  spectacles  and  let  tlic  iifws- 
pajier  fall  on  his  knees,  in  despair  of  reading  by  the  fading 
light. 

When  the  footman  opened  the  door  and  said,  •'•  Mr.  Chris- 
tian,"' Jermyn  said,  '•  Good  evening.  Yiv.  Christian.  Vn-  seated." 
pointing  to  a  chair  op})Osite  himself  and  the  window.  '•  Light 
the  candles  on  the  shelf,  John,  but  leave  the  blinds  alone." 

lie  did  not  speak  again  till  the  man  was  gone  out,  but 
a])peared  to  be  referring  to  a  document  wlneJi  lay  on  the 
lau'eau  befoi'o  him.  AVlien  the  door  was  closed  he  drew 
himself  up  au'ain.  b-egan  to  ml.)  liis  hand-,  and  turned  to- 
wanls  his  visitor,  wlio  seemed  perfeetly  iudii'l'ereiit  to  tlie  i'act 
tliat  liie  att'jrney  w;:s  in  shadoAV,  and  tliat  the  liglit  fell  ou 
him>.df. 

'•  .'\        your  riii^ne  —  a  — is  Ileury  i~^e:iddon." 

'i'lien-  w;i^  a  s'ai't  ihri ii!L;'h  Clii'i- 1  iiiu's  i'r;ime  Avhich  he  was 
quie]-;  (uiou-di.  idmost  simultaiieD'asly.  to  1  ry  and  dis'_;nise  as  a 
chiiiigi-  (jf  iie>.-.ii  ii.'ii.  Ifc  uncrossed  his  Ic-s  and  unbuttimeil  liis 
coat.  f')UC  befoi'c  lie  :i;id  time  to  say  anNdhing.  Jfrjiiyn  went 
on  with  siow  cTnoliasis. 

••  ^'ou  Av.Tc  bo.-i;  on  il;.,'  Iilih  o  1  1  >< 'C 'lid)' -r.  1 7.^2.  at  Pdack- 
heatli.  A'(jur  i;itlifr  was  a  ciotli-unTcliant  in  London  :  he  died 
when  you  Wfic  ban-Iy  ui  age,  leaving"  an  extensivt'  business  ; 
l)e|oi'(-  you  were  li vi '-a nd-tweutv  you  iiad  run  througli  tlie 
gi-eatn   pai't  ot  the  in'operty,  and  had  cumpi'omised  your  sab.'ty 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  223 

by  an  attempt  to  defraud  your  crc(litors.  Subsequently  you 
forged  a  cheek  on  your  father's  elder  brother,  who  had  intended 
to  make  you  his  heir." 

lifre  Jermyn  paused  a  moment  and  referred  to  the  docu- 
ineiit.     Christian   was  silent. 

'•  In  ].SI)8  you  found  it  exjiedient  to  leave  this  country  in  a 
mililai'v  diso'uise,  and  were  taken  prison(>r  by  the  French.  On 
the  .)('easio]i  of  an  exchange  of  prisomTs  you  liad  the  opportu- 
nity of  returning  to  .your  own  country,  and  to  the  bosom  of 
your  own  family.  Y(ni  were  generous  enough  to  sacrifice  that 
|r(>s])ect  in  favor  of  a  fello'>\'-})risoner,  of  al)out  your  own  age 
and  figure,  wlio  had  more  pressing  reasons  than  yourself  for 
^\  isliing  to  b;'  on  this  side  of  the  water.  You  exclianged  dress, 
iiti;-,!-':agc.  and  n;imes  with  him,  and  he  passed  to  England  instead 
oi  vdii  as  Ht'ury  Kcaddon.  Almost  immediately  afterwards 
-.in  .'scaped  from  3'our  imprisonment,  alter  feigning  an  illness 
\iiii-li  pi'i'Vi^nted  your  exchange  of  naimvs  fi'oni  being  discov- 
'■:■>'<].  ;ind  it  was  repor'o'd  tliat  you  —  that  is,  you  under  the 
iiinp'  ot  yoar  fi-ilow-priMiiicr  -wore  drowned  in  an  open 
oo;ii.  ti'ving  to  rer.ch  a  Xeapolitaii  vessel  ])ound  for  Malta. 
Nevertheless  1  have  to  congratulate  you  on  the  falsehood 
(■,  lli;it  report,  imd  on  tlie  certainty  tiiat  you  are  now,  after 
the  lapse  of  nuu'e  than  twoity  years,  seated  here  in  perfect 
safety." 

Jermyn  ])aiised  so  long  that  ln'  wa.s  (^vidi'iitly  awaiting  some 
answer.      At  last  Cln'isti.ni  reii'ied.  iii  a,  dni,'--;,'(l  {o;ic  — 

•■  WelL  sii',  I've  Iie;ird  mucl)  longi-r  .-tories  tl;an  th;!t  told 
rpiite  as  solemnly,  wiien  iliere  Vv'as  in  t  a  woi'd  <■['  truth  in  them. 
Su])pose  I  deny  the  \-ery  peg  yt  u  liuiii;'  yuir  statement  on. 
f^up]io-;e    1   say    I  am    lU't    Hrni'\'   SimiMou.'" 

"A  —  in  tliat  casi^  —  a,"'  said  .li-rmyii.  witli  wooden  indiffer- 
ence, •■you  wnnlil  losi^  the  adv;int;:'j:r  v/hicli  —  a  —  m;i\'  attaeh 
to  yiuir  possessioii  oi'  licni'y  "^e::i(il(urs  knowledge.  And  ai 
the  same  time,  if  it  wei'o  in  tlie  !e;i.-;t  —  a — inconvenient  to 
vou  lii;it  you  sliould  be  reco'^aii/ed  ;is  fjeni'v  Scaddon.  vour 
denial  would  not  pi'eviuit  me  Iroiu  holdim:  tl:e  knowh^de-e  and 
pvi^lenee  whieli  1  possess  on  'J):o  point;  it  would  only  prevent 
ns  I'roni  pursuing  the  jii'cseut  coneersation."'" 


224  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"Well,  sir,  suppose  Ave  admit,  for  the  sake  of  the  conver- 
sation, that  your  account  of  the  matter  is  the  true  one : 
what   advantage   have   you   to   offer  the  man  named  Henry 

Scadtlon  ?  " 

"  'il.e  advantage  —  a —  is  problematic;!! ;  but  it  may  be  con- 
sideriible.  It  might,  in  fact,  release  you  from  the  necessity  of 
;'.efcii)g  as  courier,  or  —  a  —  valet,  or  whatever  other  office  you 
may  occupy  wliich  prevents  you  from  being  your  own  master. 
On  the  other  hand,  my  acquaintance  with  your  secret  is  not 
necessarily  a  disadvantage  to  you.  To  put  the  matter  in  a 
nutshell,  I  am  not  inclined  —  a  —  gratuitously  —  to  do  you 
any  harm,  and  I  may  be  able  to  do  you  a  considerable 
service." 

''Which  you  want  me  to  earn  somehow?"  said  Christian. 
"  You  offer  me  a  turn  in  a  lottery  '.'  " 

"Precisely.  The  matter  In  question  is  of  no  earthly  interest 
to  you,  exepj)t  —  a  —  as  it  may  yield  you  a  })]'ize.  "We  lawyers 
have  to  do  with  complicated  questions,  and  —  a  —  legal  subtle- 
1;ies,  which  are  never — a  —  fully  kncnvn  even  to  the  parties 
immediatf.dy  interested,  still  less  to  the  witnesses.  Shall  we 
agree,  then,  that  you  continue  to  retain  two-thirds  of  tlie  name 
wliich  you  gained  by  exchange,  and  that  you  oblige  me  by 
answering  certain  questions  as  to  the  experience  of  Henry 
Scaddon?" 

"Very  good.     Goon." 

"  Wliat  articles  of  ])roperty,  once  belonging  to  your  fellow- 
pvisojiei',  ^buirice  Christian  ISycliffe,  do  you  still  I'ctain  ?" 

'•'I'his  ring."  said  Christian,  twirling  round  the  line  .seal-ring 
on  his  linger,  '-his  watch,  and  the  litth;  inattcrs  that  hung  witli 
:t,  and  a  ease  of  ])apers.  I  got  rid  of  a.  gold  snuff-box  once 
when  I  was  hard-np.  The  clotlK^s  ai'c  all  gone,  of  r'oursc  We 
exchanged  everything  ;  it  was  all  done  in  a  hurry.  IJyc.liffe 
th(.)Ught  we  should  ineet  again  in  England  befon^  h'Hg,  and  he 
was  mad  to  get  there.  l>ut  that  was  impossible  —  T  mean  that 
we  sho\dd  meet  so(ni  after.  I  don't  know  wh;it  "s  heconie  of 
liim,  else  I  ^\■ould  give  him  up  his  pa|)ers  and  the  watch,  and 
so  on  —  thouL^di.  you  know,  it  was  L  who  did  him  the  service, 
an.l  he   felt  that." 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE  RADICAL.  225 

"You  were  at  Vesoul  together  before  being  moved  to 
V^erdiui  ?  " 

''  Yes." 

"  What  else  do  you  know  about  Bycliffe  ?  " 

"  Oh,  nothing  very  })articuUuy''  said  Christian,  paiising,  and 
rapping  his  boot  with  his  cane,  "lie  'd  been  in  the  llanovenau 
army  —  a  high-spirited  fellow,  took  nothing  easily  ;  not  over- 
strong  in  health.  He  made  a  fool  of  hiinself  with  marrying 
at  \'esoul  ;  and  there  was  the  devil  to  ])ay  with  the  girl's  rela- 
tions ;  and  then,  when  the  prisoners  were  ordered  off,  they 
had  to  part.  Whether  they  ever  got  together  again  i  don't 
know." 

"  Was  the  marriage  all  right  then  ?  " 

"  Oh,  all  on  the  square  —  civil  marriage,  church  —  every- 
thing. Bycliffe  was  a  fool  —  a  good-natured,  proud,  headstrong 
fellow." 

"J low  long  did  the  marriage  take  place  before  you  left 
Vesoul  ?  " 

''About  three  mouths.     I  was  a  witness  to  the  marriage." 

''And  you  know  no  more  al)Out  the  wife  ?" 

"Xot  afterwards.  I  knew  her  very  well  before  —  ]iretty 
Annette — Annette  Ledru  was  her  name.  8he  was  of  a  gcwd 
family,  and  they  had  made  up  a  fine  match  for  her.  But  she 
was  one  of  your  meek  little  dialilesses,  who  have  a  will  o'^ 
their  own  once  in  their  lives — the  will  to  choose  their  own 
master." 

"  Piveliffe  was  not  open  to  yon  about  liis  other  affairs  ?" 

'•  Oh  no  —  a  fellow  you  would  n't  dare  to  ask  a  question  of. 
Peo]»lf>  told  him  everything,  but  Ik^  told  nothing  in  return.  If 
Madame  Annette  ever  found  liini  aLrain.she  found  her  lord  and 
master  with  a  vengeance,  but  she  was  a  regular  lapdog.  How- 
ever, her  family  slnit  lier  up — made  a  prisoner  of  her  —  to 
})r(n-ent  lu>r  running  away." 

'•  Adi — good.  ]\Iuidi  of  what  you  liave  been  so  oliligine  as 
to  say  is  irrelevant  to  any  ])ossil)le  ])ur])ose  of  mine,  vliich.  in 
fact,  lias  to  do  only  with  a  mouldy  law-case  thatmiglit  b''  aired 
some  day.  You  will  doubtless,  on  vour  own  account,  nriititain 
perlVcL  silence  on  what  has  p;;  -^^l  between  us,  and  with  that 
vol,,  in.  ].»> 


2'26  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL. 

condition  duly  preserved  ^ — a  —  it  is  possible  that  —  a  —  the 
lottery  you  have  put  into  —  as  you  observe  —  may  turn  up  a 
prize."' 

"  This,  tlien,  is  all  the  business  you  have  with  me  ? "  said 
Christian,  rising. 

"  All.  You  will,  of  course,  ])reserve  carefully  all  the  papers 
and  other  articles  which  have  so  many  —  a  —  recollections  — 
a  —  attached  to  them  ?" 

"Oh  yes.  If  there's  any  chance  of  IJycliffe  turning  up 
again,  1  shall  be  sorry  to  have  vjurted  with  the  snuff-box;  but 
T  was  hard-up  at  Xa})les.  In  fact,  as  you  see,  I  Avas  obliged 
at  last  to  turn  courier." 

"An  exceedingly  agreeable  life  for  a  man  of  some  —  a  — 
ac(;omplishments  and  —  a  —  no  income,"  said  Jermyn,  rising, 
and  ri'aehing  a  candle,  which  he  placed  against  his  desk. 

Christian  knew  this  was  a  sign  that  he  was  expected  to  go, 
but  he  lingered  standing,  with  one  hand  on  the  back  of  his 
chair.     At  last  he  said  rather  sulkily  — 

"1  think  you 'r(^  too  (devin',  ^Mr.  Jermyn,  not  to  perceive  tha,t 
I  'm  iiot  a  man  to  be  madt;  a  fo(d  of." 

"\V(dl  —  a, —  it  nui.y  j)erlia])s  be  a  still  better  guarantee  for 
you,"  said  Jtu-myn,  smiling,  ''that  I  see  no  use  in  attempting 
th;d,  —  a  —  metamor])h()sis." 

"The  old  genthnnan,  who  ought  never  to  have  f(dt  himself 
injured,  is  dead  now,  and  I'm  not  afraid  of  creditors  after 
more  than   twenty  years." 

"Certainly  not;  -  a. — there  jnay  indeed  be  chiims  which 
can't  isscrt  ili.Miiselvcs  —  a  —  log;dly,  which  yet  ar(>  molesting 
to  a  Tuan  oi'  sonic,  reputation.  J5ut  you  may  perlia})s  be  ha^)- 
])ily  fre(»  from  such  i'ears."' 

Jerniyn  th'cw  round  his  chair  towards  the  bureau,  and  Chris- 
tia.n,  too  acute  to  ]icrsevere  uselessly,  said,  "  (h)od  day,"  and 
left  tlie  i-oom. 

After  leaiuug  back  in  his  chair  to  rellect  a  few  minutes, 
Jerjnyn  wrot(^,  the  following  letter:  — 

Df.ai!  Jotin'son,  —  T  Icani  from  your  IcMcr.  received  this  morning, 
that  you  intend  returning  to  town  on  Saturday. 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  227 

Wliile  you  are  there,  be  so  good  a.s  to  see  Medvvin,  who  used  to  be 
with  Batt  cS;  Cowiey,  and  ascertain  from  him  indirectly,  and  in  the 
course  of  conversation  on  other  topics,  whethtn*  in  that  old  business  in 
1810-11,  Scaddon  alias  IJyclilfe,  or  Hyclilfe  alias  Scaddon,  before  his 
imprisonment,  gave  Batt  &  Cowley  any  reason  to  believe  tliat  he  was 
married  and  expected  to  have  a  child.  The  question,  as  you  know,  is 
of  no  pi-actical  importance;  but  I  wish  to  draw  up  an  abstract  of  the 
Byelitl'e  case,  and  tlie  exact  positioii  in  which  it  stood  before  i\ui  suit 
was  closed  hy  tlie  deaili  of  the  plaintiff,  in  order  that,  if  Mr.  Harold 
'J'ransome  d*\sires  it,  he  may  see  how  tiie  failure  of  the  last  claim 
has  secured  tlie  Durfey-Transome  title,  aiid  whetiier  there  is  a  hair's- 
breadth  of  cliance  that  another  claim  should  be  set  up. 

Of  course  there  is  not  a  sliadow  of  sucii  a  chance.  For  even  if  Batt 
cS:  Cowley  were  to  suppose  that  they  had  alighted  on  a  surviving  repre- 
sentative of  the  r^yclilfes,  it  would  not  enter  into  tlieir  heads  to  set  up 
a  new  claim,  since  they  brought  evicience  that  the  last  life  which  sus- 
pended the  iiyolilVi'  remainder  was  extinct  before  the  case  was  closed, 
a  g.)od  twi'uly  years  ago. 

Still,  I  v,;iiit  lo  show  the  present  heir  of  the  Durfey-Transomes  the 
exact  C(.!ii!ili(>ii  of  ;lie  family  title  to  the  (^states.  So  get  me  an  answer 
from  Medwinou  the  ab(n-e-mi'ntioned  ]H)int. 

i  shall  meet  you  at  Dullleld  next  Vvcck.     We  must  get  Transome 
retui-ncd.      Xcvcr  mind  iiis  ha,ving  been  a  little  rough  the  other  day, 
but  go  on  doing  wli;it  you  know  is  neci'ssnry  for  his  interest.     His 
interest  is  mine,  which  I  ncd  not  say  is  Jolm  Johnson's. 
Yours  faithfully, 

Matthew  .Trrmyn. 

When  tlio  attorney  had  seah'd  tliis  letter  and  leaned  back 

ill  liis  cliai)'  again,  lie  was  inwardly  s;'.ving  — 

'vXow.  Mr.  Maroid,  I  shtsll  sliut  n]i  tliis  affair  in  a  private 
dra,\vei'  till  you  (dux^se  to  take  any  extrrme  measure's  which 
will  foi'i'o  me  to  bring  it;  oid.  1  have  tlio  matter  entirely  in 
my  own  power.  Xo  one  bat  old  Lyon  knows  al)out  the  girl's 
iiirtli.  Xo  (lie  bnb  Seaddon  can  el'Mudi  the  evidtnice  about 
I'.yi'lirfe,  and  I  "ve  got  Seadduu  umh  r  my  tliumb.  Xo  soul 
except  mystdf  and  Johnson,  wlio  is  a  limb  of  nivself,  knows 
that  tliert>  is  one  half-dead  life  w  liirli  may  presentlv  have  the 
girl  ;(  new  claim  to  the  L>ycliffe  hcirslijp.  i  shall  learn  tlirough 
JMclhursf  whetluM'  L.att  c^'  Cowlcv  Icnew.  through  I'.y.diffe, 
of  this  woman  having  C(nue  to  i'liLraud.     I  shall   ludd  all  the 


228  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

threads  between  luy  thumb  and  finger.  I  can  use  the  evidence 
or  I  cau  nullify  it. 

''  And  so,  if  Mr.  Harold  pushes  me  to  extremity,  and  threatens 
me  with  Chancery  and  ruin,  I  have  an  opposing  threat,  which 
will  either  save  nie  or  turn  into  a  ^Dunishment  for  him." 

He  rose,  put  out  his  candles,  and  stood  with  his  back  to  the 
lire,  looking  out  on  the  dim  lawn,  with  its  black  twilight 
fringe  of  shrubs,  still  meditating.  Quick  thought  was  gleam- 
ing over  tive-and-thirty  years  tilled  with  devices  more  or  less 
clever,  more  or  less  desirable  to  be  avowed.  Those  which 
might  be  avowed  with  impunity  were  not  always  to  be  distin- 
guished as  innocent  by  comparison  with  those  which  it  was 
advisable  to  conceal.  In  a  profession  where  much  that  is 
noxious  may  be  done  without  disgrace,  is  a  conscience  likely 
to  be  without  balm  when  circumstances  have  urged  a  man 
to  overstep  the  line  where  his  good  technical  information 
makes  him  aware  that  (with  discovery)  disgrace  is  likely  to 
begin  ? 

With  regard  to  the  Transomc  affairs,  the  family  had  been 
in  pressing  need  of  money,  and  it  had  lain  with  him  to  get  it 
for  them  :  was  it  to  be  expected  that  he  would  not  consider 
his  own  advantage  where  he  had  rendered  services  such  as  are 
ne\'('r  fully  paid  ?  Tf  it  came  to  a  question  of  right  and  wrong 
instead  of  law,  the  least  justifiable  things  he  had  ever  done  had 
iieen  done  on  behalf  of  the  Transomes.  It  had  been  a,  d(Mice(liy 
anpleasant  thin<_r  for  liim  to  gnt  Bydiffe  arrested  and  thrown 
into  M-ison  as  HVmu'v  Scaddon — ])('rhaps  hastening  the  man's 
(jfath  in  tliat  way.  ]'>ut  if  it  had  iK^t  been  done  by  dint  ol'  his 
Mcrinvn's)  cxiM'tions  and  tact,  he  would  like  to  know  Avhere 
the,  Durfey-Transomcs  mit,dit  liave  been  by  this  time.  As  for 
ris'lit  or  wronu',  if  tlie,  truth  were  known,  the  very  ])ossession 
of  tilt'  estate  by  the  Durfey-Transomes  was  owing  to  law-ti'icks 
that  tf)ol<  ])laee  neai'ly  a  century  ago,  when  the  original  old 
Durfey  i!:oi  his  base  fee. 

But  inward  arii;unient  of  this  sort  now,  as  always,  was  merged 
in  ant^^er,  in  (exasperation,  that  Harold,  precisely  Harfjld  Tran- 
some.  sliould  have  tm-ne(l  out  to  be  tiie  probable  instrument 
01  a  visitation  which  would  be  bail  luck,  not  justice  j  for  is 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  229 

there  any  justice  where  ninety-nine  ont  of  a  hundred  escape  ? 
He  felt  himself  beginning  to  hate  Harold  as  he  had  never  — 

Just  then  Jerniyn's  third  daughter,  a  tall  slim  girl,  wrapped 
in  a  white  woollen  shawl,  whicli  slu'  had  hung  over  her  blanket- 
wise,  skipped  across  the  lawn  towards  the  greenhouse  to  get  a 
flower.  Jermyn  was  startled,  and  did  not  identify  the  ngure, 
or  rather  he  identified  it  falsely  wUli  another  tall  white- 
wrapped  figure  which  had  sometimes  set  his  heftrt  beating 
quickly  more  than  thirty  years  before.  For  a  moment  he  was 
fully  back  in  those  distant  years  when  he  and  another  bright- 
eyed  person  had  seen  no  reason  why  they  should  not  indulge 
their  ])assion  and  their  vanity,  and  determine  for  themselves 
how  tlieir  lives  should  be  nuule  delightful  in  spite  of  unalter- 
able external  conditions.  The  reasons  had  been  unfolding 
themselves  gradually  ever  since  through  all  the  years  which 
had  converted  the  jiandsome,  soft-eyed,  slim  young  Jermyn 
(with  a  tdiich  of  sentiment)  into  a  portly  lawyer  of  sixty,  for 
whom  life  had  resolved  itself  into  the  means  of  keeping  up 
his  head  aiiiDUg  his  })rofessi()nal  brethren  and  maintaining  an 
pstablishmeid.  —  into  a  gray-haired  husband  and  father,  whose 
tliinl  afieetionate  ami  expcMisivc  daughter  now  rapped  at  the 
wiiulow  ami  called  to  him,  "'•Tapa,  papa,  get  ready  for  dinner; 
dou't  you  remember  that  the  Lukyus  are  coming  ?  " 


CHArrKK  xxir. 

Her  ixnitlo  looks  slmt  arnnvs,  ])iorriii2:  him 
As  i;;(i(is  are  ]ii('rceii.  with  jHiismi  of  sweet  ])ity. 

Thk  evening  of  the  markef,-day  had  passed,  and  Felix  had 
not  looked  in  at  Malthouse  ^'a^d  1o  talk  over  the  ])ublic  evri;ts 
with  Mr.  Lyon.  ^Vllell  Esther  was  diressing  the  ii(>xt  morning, 
she  iiad  rearhed  a  ])oint  of  ii-i'itati'd  anxiety  to  seo  Felix,  at 
which  she  found  herself  devising  little  schemes  tor  I'ttaiiuiig 


230  FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL. 

that  end  in  some  way  that  wouhl  be  so  elaborate  as  to  seem 
perfectly  natural.  Her  watch  had  a  long-standing  ailment  of 
losing ;  possibly  it  wanted  cleaning  ;  Felix  would  tell  her  if  it 
mertdy  wanted  regulating,  -.whereas  Mr.  Trowd  might  detain  it 
iinni'Ci's^arily,  and  cau,-;-,*  her  useless  inconvenience.  Or  could 
she  not  get  a  valuable  hinl  from  Mrs.  Holt  aJ)out  the  home- 
made bread,  which  was  something  as  '-'sad"  as  Lyddy  herself? 
Or.  if  she  came  home  that  way  at  twelve  o'clock,  Felix  might 
b<',  going  out,  she  might  meet  him,  and  not  Ije  obliged  to  call. 
Or  —  but  it  would  be  very  much  beneath  her  to  take  any  steps 
of  this  sort.  Her  wateh  ])ad  been  losing  for  the  last  two 
months  —  Vvdiy  should  it  not  go  on  losing  a  little  longer?  She 
could  tliinl:  of  no  devices  tl);it  wi're  not  so  transparent  as  to  be 
undignilied.  All  ths,-  more  undignified  because  Felix  cliose  to 
live  in  a  way  that  would  prevent  any  one  froju  classing  him 
accor<ling  to  his  education  and  mental  reiinement — '•' wliicl: 
certainly  ar(;  very  high,"'  said  Esther  inwardly,  coloring,  as  if 
in  answer  to  some  contrary  alh'gation,  '-else  I  should  not 
think  liis  (j])inion  of  any  consefpience."  But  she  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  she  could  not  })0ssib]y  call  at  Mrs.  Holt's. 

It  follov>-ed  tliat  up  to  a  fev.-  minutes  past  twelve,  when  she 
ri'aclied  the  tui'iiing  to\\-ards  Mi\s.  Holt's,  she  JKdieveil  tliat 
slie  sliould  go  bonu;  the  other  way  ;  but  at  tlie  last  moment 
lli'U'e  is  always  a  n'ji.^on  not  existing  bidori'  —  namely,  the 
ijiipo,->iiiility  of  further  vaeilkttion.  '^stli^r  tui'iied  the  eor- 
n<M'  '.'.ilhout  any  visible  ])ause,  aijd  in  another  minuti'  was 
kiiDckiiig  at  Mrs.  Ibtk's  dooi-.  not  without  an  in-.vard  iiutter, 
whii-ji    .-,lit;   was   bent  o)i    (lisguisin'^^ 

'•  1 1  's  nevt-r  you.  .Miss  I^ycui  I  who  'd  have  thought  of  scidng 
you  :e,  this  time  '.'  Is  tbi'  ministei'  ill  '.'  1  thou'^ht  he  looked 
creecliy.      i  I'  you  want  he,]]),  I  '11  put  my  bonnet  on.'' 

'•l)Mn"t  k'-ep  .Mi>s  Lyon  at  the  dooi-.  mother;  a<k  her  to 
come  in,"  said  tlie  rin^iii'^'  wtice  of  i'elix.  surmounting  vai'ioi;s 
siJiall  sliutliings  and  lialiiilinc;  voici  s  witbin. 

''it's  my  wi>li  inr  her  to  eoine  in.  I'm  sui'e,"  said  Mrs. 
Holt,  making  wa\"  ;  •■but  vv'hat  is  tliere  for  her  t(^  eome  iii  to? 
a  floor  woi'se  llian  any  piiblic  ''at  sle;,  in.  pi-av.  if  vou  "re 
HO  inclined.      When  !  've.  l>eeii  ioreed  to  take,  my  bit  of  carpel 


i,i\    1 1'  ill    \N  1)   .I'll;    til) 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   KAUICAL.  231 

up,  and  have  benches,  I  don't  see  why  I  need  mind  nothing 
no  more." 

'^  I  only  came  to  ask  Mr.  Holt  if  he  would  look  at  my  watch 
for  nie,"  said  Esther,  entering,  and  blushing  a  general  rose- 
color. 

'•  He  '11  do  that  fast  enough,"  said  ^Ivs.  Holt,  with  empha- 
sis ;  "  that 's  one  of  the  things  he  u-ill  do." 

'■  Excuse  my  rising,  Miss  Lyon,"  said  Felix  ;  "  I  'm  binding 
up  Job's  hnger." 

Job  was  a  small  fellow  about  five,  with  a  germinal  nose, 
large  round  blue  eyes,  and  red  hair  that  curh'd  close  to  his 
liead  like  the  wool  on  the  back  of  an  infantine  lamb.  He  had 
evidently  been  crying,  and  the  corners  of  his  mouth  were  still 
dolorous.  Eelix  held  him  on  his  kut'C"  as  he  bound  and  tied 
up  very  cleverly  a  tiny  forelingiM'.  Tlun-e  was  a  table  in  front 
of  I'Ydix  and  against  the  window,  covered  with  his  watch- 
making implements  and  some  open  books.  Two  benches 
stood  at  right  angles  on  the  sanded  iloor,  and  six  or  sevc-?: 
boys  of  various  ages  up  to  twelve  were  getting  their  caps  and 
})reparing  to  go  home.  They  huddled  themselves  togetlier 
and  stood  still  Avlien  Esther  entered.  Felix  could  not  look  up 
till  lie  liad  tinisheil  his  surgery,  but  he  went  on  speaking. 

'•This  is  a  hei'o,  iMiss  Lyon.  This  is  Job  Tudge,  a  bold 
I'riton  wlu)S(.>  linger  hurts  him,  but  wht)  doesn't  mean  to  cr}'. 
(iood  uKn-ning,  boys.  Don't  lose  your  tinu\  Get  out  into 
tlie  air.'' 

E:-tlier  seated  herself  on  the  end  of  the  beiudi  near  Fcdix, 
r,iu(di  ndievcd  tliat  Job  was  tlu'  imnu^diate  object  of  attiu- 
tion. ;  and  tlie  other  boys  rushed  out  Iwdiind  her  with  a  Ijricf 
chant  of   ••  (iood   morning  !  "' 

'■Did  you  ever  see,"  said  ^Irs.  Tlolt,  standing  to  l(,)ok  on, 
"  how  wonderful  Ftdix  is  at  tlial  sniali  worl;  with  his  larg  • 
finu-i'rs  ?  And  that's  iH'cause  lie  Icanit  doetrtring.  Tt  isn't 
loi-  want  of  (deverness  he  loolcs  lilx'i^  a.  poor  man,  ]\Iiss  Lyoii. 
]  'vi'  left  off  speaking,  else  f  should  say  it's  a  sin  and  a 
shaim-." 

■•  Motiier."  said  Felix,  who  ofiiai  amused  himself  and  kejit 
gO(.iddiiimored  by  giving  his   mother  answers  that  were  uuin- 


232  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

telligible  to  lier,  "  you  have  an  astouisliing  readiness  in  the 
Ciceronian  antiplirasis,  considering  you  have  never  studied 
oratory.  There,  Job  —  tliou  patient  man  —  sit  still  if  thou 
wilt ;  and  now  we  can  look  at  Miss  Lyon." 

Esther  had  taken  off  her  watch  and  was  holding  it  in  her 
hand.  Ihit  he  looked  at  her  face,  or  rather  at  her  eyes,  as  he 
said,  '•'  You  want  nie  to  doctor  your  watch  ?  *' 

Esther's  expression  was  appealing  and  timid,  as  it  had 
never  been  before  in  Felix's  presence  ;  but  when  she  saw  the 
perfect  calmness,  which  to  her  seemed  coldness,  of  his  clear 
gray  eyes,  as  if  he  saw  no  reason  for  attaching  any  emphasis 
to  tliis  llrst  meeting,  a  i)ang  swift  as  an  electric  shock  darted 
through  her.  She  had  been  very  foolish  to  think  so  much  of 
it.  It  seemed  to  her  as  if  her  inferiority  to  Felix  made  a 
great  gttlf  between  them.  She  could  not  at  once  rally  her 
pride  and  self-(:ommand,  but  let  her  glance  fall  on  her  watch, 
and  said,  rather  tremulously,  ''•  It  loses.  It  is  very  trouble- 
some.    It  has  been  losing  a  long  while." 

Felix  took  the  watch  fronr  her  hand  ;  then,  looking  round 
and  seeing  tliat  his  mother  was  gone  out  of  the  room,  he  said, 
very  gently  — 

"You  look  distressed,  ]Miss  Lyon.  I  hope  there  is  no 
trouble  at  liome  *'  (Fi-lix  was  thinking  of  the  minister's  agita- 
tion on  the  pr(-vious  Sunday).  '■'  I'!ut  I  ought  pe-rliaps  to  beg 
your   pardon   ior   sa\'ing  so  3nuch." 

Vi)()V  ]v-tlier  was  quite  helpless.  The  mortiiication  which 
liad  Cdiiie  like  a  bi'uise  to  all  tlie  sensibilities  that  had  been 
in  bei'ii  activity,  insistrd  on  some  relief.  Ilei'  eyes  filled  in- 
stantly, ajid  a  ]^v-'dt  tear  rolled  down  while  she  said  in  a  loud 
sort  ol'  \vhi.-]i'-r,  as  involuntary  as  her  ti-ai-s  — 

'•'1  v.'untiMl  to  tell  you  that  I  was  not  offended  —  that  I  am 
nf(t  un;;>-n'-rnii,^  —  I  thought  you  might  think  —  btit  you  liave 
nut  th(jught  of  if." 

AVas  tla]'(3  e\i  r  mure  awkward  speaking?  —  or  any  behavior 
b.'ss  lilce  that  of  tlr.:  graceful,  self-posscss(_'il  ]\riss  Lyon,  whose 
]i]ira.->^s  weri-  u.- aally  so  well  turned,  and  v.diose  rejiartees  AS'ere 
so  rra'^l}-  ? 

Fnr  a  niuim-nt  tliere  was  silence.     Esther  hud  her  two  little 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  233 

delicately  gloved  hands  clasped  on  the  table.  The  next  mo- 
ment she  felt  one  hand  of  Felix  covering  llieui  botii  and  press- 
ing them  iirml3"  ;  but  he  did  not  speak.  The  tears  were  both 
on  her  eheeks  now,  and  she  could  look  up  at  him.  His  eyes 
liad  an  expression  of  sadness  in  them,  quite  new  to  her.  Sud- 
denly little  Job,  who  had  his  mental  exercises  on  the  occasion, 
called  out,  impatiently  — 

"  She  's  tut  her  linger  !  " 

Felix  and  Esther  laughed,  and  drew  their  hands  away  ;  and 
as  I'^sther  took  her  handkerchief  to  wipe  the  tears  from  her 
cheeks,   she  said  — 

'•'  You  see,  Job,  I  am  a  naughty  coward.  I  can't  help  crying 
when  I  've  hurt  myself." 

'•'Zoo  sood  n't  kuy,"  said  Job,  energetically,  being  much  im- 
pressed with  a  moral  doc^trine  which  had  come  to  him  after  a 
suilieient  transgression  of  it. 

''Job  is  like  me,"  said  Felix,  "fonder  of  preaching  than 
of  })ractico.  lUit  lot  us  look  at  this  same  watch,"  he  went  on, 
opciiing  and  examining  it.  '-These  little  Geneva  toys  are 
clcvt'rly  constructed  to  go  always  a  little  wrong.  But  if  you 
wind  them  ix\)  and  set  them  regularly  every  night,  you  may 
knijw  at  least  that  it 's  not  noon  when  tlie  hand  points  there." 

Kflix  chatted,  tliat  ]'"sther  miglit  I'ecover  herself ;  but  now 
M  I's.  Holt  came  back  and  apologized. 

••  Vou  "11  excuse  my  going  away,  T  know.  ^liss  Lyon.  But 
there  were  the  dumplings  to  see  to,  and  what  little  I've  got  left 
<jn  uiy  liands  now,  I  like  to  do  well.  Not  Init  what  I 'v(^  more 
clr;uiing  to  Cu)  than  ever  1  luid  in  niy  life  bei'ore,  as  you  may 
I'll  soi.'U  ciiougli  if  you  h)ok  ;it  tliis  floor.  But  when  you  "ve 
been  used  {{)  doing  tilings,  and  they  'vo  been  taken  away  from 
you,  it  "s  as  it'  ycjur  iiaiids  had  ijeen  cut  oil",  and  you  felt  the 
lingers  as  are  of  no  use  to  3'<>u.'' 

••'fliat  's  a  gi'eat  image,  motli'T."  said  F(dix,  as  he  sna]>])ed 
the  waleli  together,  and  handeil  it:  to  Ivstlier  :  "  I  never  heard 
you  u-e  <uch  an  iiiuu^e  before.'" 

••  Ves,  1  know  you  "ve  always  --wiue  fault  to  fnid  with  Avhat 
your  iii'ither  >;iys.  But  if  ever  t,li''i'e  was  a  womai'  could  talk 
with  tlie  open  Bible  betoie    l;ci',   and  not  be  afraid,   it's  Uie.      I 


234  FELIX  HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

never  did  tell  stories,  and  I  never  will  —  though  I  know  it  'a 
done,  Miss  Lyon,  and  by  church  members  too,  when  they  have 
candles  to  sell,  as  I  could  bring  you  the  proof.  But  I  never 
was  one  of  "em,  let  Felix  say  what  he  will  about  the  printing 
on  tlie  tickets.  His  father  bt^lieved  it  was  gospel  truth,  and 
it's  presumptuous  to  say  it  was  n't.  For  as  for  curing,  how 
can  anybody  know  ?  There 's  no  physic  "11  cure  without  a 
blessing,  and  ivltli  a  blessing  I  know  I  "ve  seen  a  mustard  plais- 
ter  work  when  there  was  no  more  smell  nor  strength  in  the 
nuistard  than  so  much  flour.  And  reason  good  —  for  the  mus- 
tard had  lain  in  paper  nobody  knoAvs  how  long  —  so  I  '11  leave 
you  to  guess."' 

Mrs.  Holt  looked  hard  out  of  the  window  and  gave  a  slight 
inarticulate  sound  of  scorn. 

Felix  had  leaned  back  in  his  chair  with  a  resigned  smile, 
and  was  pinching  Job's  ears. 

Esther  said,  "  I  think  I  had  better  go  now,"  not  knowing 
what  else  to  say,  yet  not  v.dshing  to  go  iuimediately,  lest  she 
should  seem  to  bo  running  away  from  INIrs.  Holt.  She  felt 
keenly  how  much  endurance  there  must  be  for  Felix.  And 
sh(^  had  often  been  discontented  with  her  father,  and  called 
Inm  tii'escme  ! 

'•AVhere  docs  Job  Tudge  live?"  she  said,  still  sitting,  ant] 
hjobiiig  ;it  the  droll  little  iigure.  set  olT  by  a  ragged  jacket 
with  :i  tail  ab'out  two  inches  deep  sticking  out  above  the  fuu- 
nit'>t  of  cordurovs. 

'•  J(ji)  has  two  mansions."  said  Felix.  ^'  He  lives  here  chiefly; 
but  lie  h;is  anollicr  liome,  wiicre  his  grandfather,  INIr.  Tudge, 
the  stoiie-brealver,  lives.  ^Iv  mother  is  very  good  to  Job,  3Iiss 
Lyon.  Slie  lias  juade  him  a,  little  bed  in  a  cupboard,  and  she 
gives  liim  sweetened  jiori'idge." 

'I'lie  ex(jui>iti'  goodness  ini]>lie(l  in  thes(!  words  of  Felix 
impressed  Fsllicr  tlie  more.  l)ecause  in  Iut  lieaia'ug  his  talk 
had  usually  been  jiuiigeid.  mid  diaraiieiatory.  Looking  at  ]Mrs. 
]b)lt,  slie  saw  tiiat  ]\vv  cyo  iiadi  lo,>t  th(dr  l>leak  north-easterly 
expression,  and  were  shiniu'.:  w\\\\  some  mildness  on  little  Job, 
\vlio  liad  turned  roundi  to\va,rdis  her,  ]ii'op])ing  his  head  against 
Felix. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL  235 

-•'Well,  why  shouldn't  I  be  motherly  to  the  child,  Miss 
Lyou  ?  "  said  ^Ivs.  Holt,  whose  stront;-  powers  of  argument  re- 
quired the  file  of  an  imagined  coutraflietiou,  if  there  were  no 
real  one  at  hand.  "I  never  was  liard-hearted,  and  I  never  will 
be.  It  Vv^as  Felix  })ieked  the  child  up  and  took  to  him,  you  may 
be  sure,  f(n-  there  's  nobody  else  master  where  he  is  ;  but  I 
was  n"t  jj;oing  to  beat  the  orphan  child  and  abuse  him  because 
of  that,  and  him  as  straight  as  an  arrow  when  he's  stript,  and 
uie  so  fond  of  children,  and  only  hai.!  one  of  my  own  to  live. 
1  "d  three  babies.  ]\liss  Lyon,  but  the  blessed  Lord  only  S})ared 
Felix,  and  him  the  masterfullest  and  the  brownest  of  'em  all. 
l-Jut  I  did  my  duty  by  him,  and  I  said,  he  '11  have  more  school- 
ing than  Ids  father,  and  he'll  grow  up  a  doctor,  and  marry  a 
woman  with  money  to  furnish  —  as  I  was  myself,  spoons  and 
everything — and  I  shall  have  the  grandchildren  to  look  up 
to  me,  and  be  drove  t)ut  in  the  gig  sometimes,  like  old  Mrs. 
Lukyn.  And  you  see  what  it 's  all  come  to,  ]Miss  Lyon  :  here  's 
Kflix  made  ;i  common  man  of  himself,  and  says  he  '11  never  be 
married  —  which  is  the  most  unreasonable  thing,  and  him  never 
easy  but  when  lie  's  got  the  child  on  his  lap,  or  when  —  " 

''Stoj).  sfo]).  inoth(M'."'  Felix  burst  in;  '-'pray  don't  use  that 
lim])ing  argument  again  —  that  a  man  should  marry  because 
lie  "s  fond  of  children.  That's  a  reason  for  not  marrying.  A 
!)aelielor"s  children  are  idways  young:  tlu'V 're  immortal  chiL 
(h'rn  —  always  lisping,  waddling,  helpless,  and  with  a  chance 
of  turning  out  gcjoil."' 

''The  Lni'd  abovi^  may  know  what  yo\i  mean  !  And  have  n't 
other  folk's  children  a,  diaiice  of  turning  out  good  ?" 

"Oh,  they  grow  out  oi'  it  very  fast.  Here's  Job  Tudge 
now."'  said  Felix,  turning  the  littli'  one  round  (jii  his  knee,  and 
holding  his  hrad  by  the  back  —  ■■  doli's  limbs  will  get  lanky  ; 
this  little  list  tluit  looks  like  a  ])uft'-ball  and  cun  hide  nothing 
biuLTt'i'  than  a  gcoseberry.  will  L,^et  lai'Lre  and  bony,  ainl  |)erhaps 
want  to  clr.trh  iiim-f  ;haii  its  -liare  :  these  wide  blue  eves  that 
tell  mr  more  truth  than  dnii  knows.  Avill  narrow  and  narrow 
and  try  to  hide  truth  that  dob  woual  be  better  withoui  iciiow- 
iiiu  ;  rids  little  negative  nose  Vv-ill  breonir  long  and  sidf'-asscrt- 
ing ;  ami  this  little  tongue  —  put  out  thy  tongue,  .lob"  —  -lob; 


286  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

awe-struck  under  this  ceremony,  put  out  a  little  red  tongiie 
very  timidly  — "  this  tongue,  hardly  bigger  than  a  rose-leaf, 
will  get  large  and  thick,  wag  out  of  season,  do  mischief,  brag 
and  cant  for  gain  or  vanity,  and  cut  as  cruelly,  for  all  its  clum- 
siness, as  if  it  were  a  sharp-edged  blade.  Big  Job  will  perhaps 
be  naughty — "'  As  Felix,  speaking  with  tlie  loud  emphatic 
distiuclne'ss  liabitunl  to  him.  brought  out  this  terribly  familiar 
word,  Job's  scnst-  ol'  mystilication  became  too  painful :  he  hung 
his  li})  and  l)egan  to  cry. 

"See  tl^'r."."  said  Mrs.  Holt,  ''you're  frightening  the  inni- 
cent  child  witli  such  talk --  and  it's  enough  to  frighten  them 
that  think  themselves  the  safest." 

'-Locjk  here.  Job,  my  man.  "  said  Felix,  setting  the  l)oy  down 
and  turning  1dm  towards  Estlier;  "go  to  Miss  Lyon,  a.sk  her 
to  smile  at  you,  and  that  will  dry  uj)  your  tears  like  the  sun- 
shine." 

Jol)  put  his  two  brown  fists  on  Esther 's  lap,  and  she 
stooped  to  kiss  him.  Then  holding  his  face  between  her  hands, 
she  said,  "Tell  Mr.  Holt  we  don't  mean  to  be  naughty,  Job. 
He  should  believe  in  us  more.  But  now  I  must  really  go 
liom.e." 

Esther  rose  and  lield  out  her  hand  to  INIrs.  Holt,  who  kept  it 
wliih"!  she.  said,  a  little  to  Esther's  confusion  — 

"  1  am  very  glad  it 's  took  your  fancy  to  come  here  somc^times, 
?il  iss  Lyon.  J  know  you  're  thought  to  hold  your  head  high,  but 
]  speak  of  y)('0[ilt'  as  I  find  "cm.  And  I  'm  sure  anybody  had 
need  be  humble  1liat  conies  where  there's  a  fioor  like  this  — 
for  1  "ve  put  by  my  best  tea-trays,  they're  so  out  of  all  charie- 
ter  —  1  must  look  Above  for  comfort  now  ;  but  \  don't  say  I  'm 
not  woilliy  in  i)e  called  on  lor  all  that." 

Felix  liail  risen  and  moved  towards  the  door  tliat  lie  might 
Ojieii  it  and  hiiield  I'^sthei'  irom  more  last  words  (»n  ids  mother's 
pai't. 

"(^ood-by.  Mr.  Holt." 

"  Will  .Ml.  Lyon  like  mt-  to  sit  with  hmi  au  hour  this  eyen- 
ing.  do  you  think  '.' "' 

"  \Vh\-  not  '.'      tic  always  likt^^  to  see  you." 

"Then  1  will  eoiue.     (_iood-by." 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  237 

"■She's  a  very  straight  figure,"  said  Mrs.  Holt.  ''How  she 
carries  herself  !  l^ut  I  doubt  there  's  some  truth  in  what  our 
people  say.  If  she  won't  look  at  young  ]\[uscat,  it 's  the  better 
for  him.     He  'd  need  have  a  big  fortune  that  marries  her." 

"  That 's  true,  mother,"  said  Felix,  sitting  down,  snatching 
up  little  Job,  and  finding  a  vent  for  some  unspeakable  feeling 
in  the  prctruce  of  worrying  him. 

Esther  was  rather  nielauciioiy  as  she  went  home,  yet  hap- 
pier withal  than  she  had  been  lor  many  days  before.  She 
thought,  '"I  need  not  mind  haviug  sliown  so  much  anxiety 
about  his  opinion.  H(>  is  too  clear-siglitrd  to  luistake  our  mutual 
position;  he  is  quite  above  putting  a  false  interpretation  on 
what  I  have  done.  ISesides,  he  had  not  tiioughv.  of  me  at  all  — • 
I  saw  that  plainly  enough.  Yet  he  was  very  kind.  There  is 
something  greater  and  better  in  him  than  I  had  imagined.  His 
behavior  to-day  — to  his  mother  and  me  too  —  I  should  call 
it  the  highest  gentlemanliness,  only  it  seems  in  him  to  be  some- 
thing deep(U'.  Ikit  he  has  chosen  an  intolerable  life  ;  though  I 
suppose,  if  I  had  a  mind  erpial  to  his,  and  if  he  loved  me  very 
dearly,  I  should  choose  the  same  life." 

Esther  felt  that  she  had  prefixed  an  impossible  ''if"  to  that 
result.  ]>ut  now  she  had  known  Felix,  her  conception  of 
what  a  happy  love  must  be  had  become^  like  a  dissolving  view, 
in  which  the  once-chvxr  images  were  gradually  melting  into  new 
forms  and  new  colors.  The  favorite  I'yrouic  heroes  were  be- 
giiniing  to  look  somc^.hing  like  last  night's  decorations  seen  in 
the  sober  dawn.     So  fast  does  a  little  leaven  spread  within  us 

—  so  incalculable  is  the  effect  of  one  {)ersonality  on  another. 
Behind  all  Esther's  tlioughts.  like  an  unacknowledged  yet  con- 
straining presence,  tiiere  was  tlie  sense,  that  if  Felix  Holt  wei'(^ 
to  love  h(M'.  lier  lii'e  would  be  exalted  into  something  quite  new 

—  into  a  son  of  difficult  blessetlness.  such  as  one  may  imagint> 
in  Ix'ings  wImi  ure  conscious  i)f  painfully  growing  into  the  pos- 
session of  higher  powers. 

It  was  quite  true  that  Felix  had  not  thought  the  more  of 
Esther  because  of  tliat  Sunday  al'ternoon's  interview  which 
I'.ad  sliaken  her  niintl  to  tlie  vei'v  roots.  He  had  avoided 
intruding   ou    Mr.    Lyon   witliout    s]jecial    reason,   bec.ause  he 


288  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

believed  the  minister  to  be  preo('eui)ied  with  some  private 
care.  He  had  thouglit  a  great  deal  of  Esther  with  a  mixture 
of  strong  disapproval  and  strong  liking,  Avhicii  both  together 
made  a  feeling  the  reverse  of  indifference  ;  but  he  was  not- 
going  to  let  her  have  any  inHuenee  on  his  life.  Even  if  his 
determination  had  not  been  fixed,  he  v.'ould  have  believed  that 
she  would  utterly  scorn  liini  in  any  other  light  tlian  that  of 
an  acquaintance,  and  the  t'uiotion  slie  had  sliown  to-day  did 
not  change  tluit  belief.  But  lie  was  deeply  touclied  by  this 
numifestation  of  her  better  qualities,  and  fell  rliat  there  was 
a  new  tie  of  friendship  l)t'tween  them.  Tiiat  was  the  brief 
history  Felix  Avould  have  given  of  his  relation  to  Esther. 
And  he  was  accustonu.-d  to  ftlxserve  himsrlf.  J!ut  very  close 
and  diligent  looking  at  living  crt^atures,  even  througli  the 
best  microscope,  will  leave  room  for  new  and  contradictory 
discoveries. 

Felix  found  INIr.  Lyon  particularly  glad  to  talk  to  him. 
Tlie  minister  had  never  yet  disljurtliened  himself  about  his 
letter  to  j\Ir.  Pliilip  Debarr}-  concerning  the  public  confer- 
ence ;  and  as  by  this  time  he  had  all  the  lieads  of  his  discus- 
sion tliorougldy  in  his  mind,  it  Vv"as  agreeable  to  recite  them, 
as  well  as  to  exjiress  Ins  regret  that  time  liad  been  lost  by 
Mr.  Debariy"s  absence  froin  the  I^.Ianor,  which  luid  prevt'iited 
the  immediate  fuliilment  ol'  liis  pledge. 

'•  I  don't  see  liow  he  can  fullil  it  if  the  Eector  refuses," 
said  Felix,  thinking  it  well  to  moderate  the  little  man's 
eoiiiiileiice. 

'•The  Kector  is  of  a  spirit  tliat  will  not  incur  earthly  im- 
pe;ieliment.  and  he  cannot  reluse  wliat  is  necessary  to  his 
nepheAv"s  honorable  discharge  of  an  obligal  ion,"'  .said  ^Iv.  Lyon. 
^•My  young  fiiend,  it  is  a  case  wherein  the  ]ii'earranged  condi- 
tions teuil  by  such  a  l)eautii'ul  illness  to  the  issu"  I  have  sought, 
that  I  slioulil  h;ive  forever  lieid  my.:)elf  a  traitor  to  my  charge 
had  I  neglected  the  indicatiou^"' 


FELIX   ilULT,    THE    RADICAL.  ^^^^ 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

I  win  iidt  excuse  you;  you  sliall  not  be  excused  ;  excuses  shall  not  be  ad- 
mitted ;  there  's  uo  excuse  sluill  serve,  you  shall  nut  be  excused. —  Ihnrij  IV. 

WnKX  riiilip  Debarry  luul  come  home  that  morning  and 
read  the  letters  which  had  not  been  forv/arded  to  him,  he 
hiuglu'd  so  heartily  at  ]\ir.  Lyon's  tliat  he  congratuhited  him- 
selt  on  being-  in  liis  private  room.  Otlierwise  his  hmghter 
wouhl  liave  aAvakcned  tlie  curiosity  of  Sir  ]M'axinius,  and 
I'liilip  did  not  wisli  to  tell  any  one  the  contents  of  the  let- 
ter until  he  had  shown  them  to  his  uncle.  He  determined 
to  ride  over  to  the  Kectory  to  lunch ;  for  as  Lady  ]\Iary  was 
away,  he  and  his  inicle  might  be  tefc-u-tetc. 

The  Kfctory  was  on  the  other  side  of  tlie  river,  close  to  the 
clnireli  of  whit'h  it  was  the  lifting  companion  :  a  fine  old  brick- 
and-stone  house,  witlt  ;i  great  bow-window  o})(Miing  from  the 
library  on  to  thc^  deep-turred  lawn,  one  f;d^  dog  sleeping  on  the 
door-stone,  another  fat  <log  waddling  on  llie  gravel,  tlie  autumn 
leaves  duly  swejit  aw;iy,  the  lingering  ehrysniithemums  eher- 
ish'.'d,  tall  trees  stooping  or  S(.Kiriiig  in  the  most  pielurt^sque 
varit  ty.  and  ;i  \'irginian  creeper  turning  ;i  little  rustic  Imt 
into  a  scarlet  ])avilion.  Ir,  w;i.s  one  of  tlio-.t'  rectories  wliich 
ai'c  aiiiong  the  bulwarks  of  our  venerablr  in^liliiiions  —  which 
ari'cst  lii-diitegrai  iie_;'  iloubt.  serve  a-;  ;!  ilviiiile  enreaiikme'nt 
against  I'ojiei'y  and  1  )i:;sent.  and  rally  reiniiiini'  instinct  antl 
atf"ctiou  to  I'cinl'oi'ce  the  decisi<ai<  of  niasiailine  thought. 

••  Wliat  makes  you  look  s:)in!r;y.  IMiil?"  said  tlie  fiector, 
a>  li!s  nephew  entered  the  jile.i^anr  library. 

•■  Suniething  that  c(uu^erns  yiai.""  .--aid  I'liili]!.  taking  nut  the 
f'tter.  "AcltU'ical  ehallenge.  Ib're's  an  oppoi'turiity  lor  you 
to  emulate  the  divines  of  the  sixteenth  centui'y  and  liave  a 
tta,M;lM._.i(.;i]  cluel.      Kead  tiiis  Imtc-r"' 

''Wliat  answer  liave  you  sent  tlm  crazy  little  fellow  ?  ""  said 
the  Lector,  keeping  the  letter   in   his  hand  airl    running  over 


240  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

it  again  and  again,  witii  brow  knit,  but  eyes  gleaming  without 
any  malignity. 

"  Oh,  I  sent  no  answer,     I  awaited  yours." 

"Mine  I"  said  the  Eector,  tlirowing  down  the  letter  on  the 
table.  '•  You  don't  suppose  I  'm  going  to  hold  a  public  debate 
with  a  schismatic  of  that  sort?  I  should  have  an  infidel  shoe- 
maker next  expecting  me  to  answer  blasphemies  delivered  in 
bad  grammar."' 

"But  ydu  see  how  he  puts  it,"  said  Philip.  With  all  his 
gravity  of  nature  he  could  not  resist  a  slightly  mischievous 
prompting,  though  he  hud  a  serious  feeling  that  he  should  not 
like  to  be  regarded  as  failing  to  fulfil  his  pledge.  "I  think  if 
you  refuse,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  offer  myself." 

"Nonsense!  Tell  him  he  is  himself  acting  a  dishonorable 
part  in  interpreting  your  words  as  a  pledge  to  do  any  prepos- 
terous thing  that  suits  his  fancy.  Suppose  he  had  asked  you  to 
give  him  land  to  build  a  chapel  on ;  doubtless  that  would  have 
given  him  a  'lively  satisfaction.'  A  man  who  puts  a  non-natu- 
ral strained  sense  on  a  promise,  is  no  better  than  a  robber." 

"  l)ut  he  has  not  asked  for  land.  I  dare  say  he  thinks  you 
won't  object  to  his  proposal.  I  confess  there  's  a  simplicity 
and  quaiutness  about  tlie  letter  that  rather  pleases  me." 

"  liCt  me  tell  you,  riiil,  he  's  a  crazy  little  firefly,  tliat  does 
a  great  deal  of  liarm  in  my  ])arish.  He  inflames  the  Dissen- 
ters' minds  on  })olitics.  Ther(^  's  no  end  to  the  mischief  done 
I'v  tliese  busy  prating  men.  They  make  the  ignorant  multi- 
tiidi'  the  judges  of  the  largest  qucstious.  both  political  and 
vcligious,  till  we  shall  soon  liave  no  institution  left  that  is 
not  on  a  level  with  the  coniiirehcnsioii  of  a  huckster  or  a 
draynuin.  There  ran  bf^  nothing  more  retrograde  —  losing  all 
the  results  of  civilizaiion.  all  1h<'  lessons  fif  I'l'ovidenee  —  let- 
ting the  windlass  run  down  after  mm  hav(^  been  turning  at  it 
]»ain fully  fo.r  '.riMicratioiis.  If  the  instructed  are  not  to  judge 
for  the  uninsi  lui'tei].  why,  let  us  set,  Dick  Stubbs  to  make  our 
almanacs,  and  h;ive  a  President  of  the  lioyal  Society  elected 
by  univr'rsid  suffra'_:e." 

Tlie  Kector  IkhI  risen,  placed  hiraself  with  his  back  to 
the  fire,  and  thrust  his  luiiuls  in  his  pockets,  ready  to  insist 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  241 

further  on  this  wide  argument.  Philip  sat  nursing  one  leg, 
listening  respectfully,  as  he  always  did,  though  often  listening 
to  the  sonorous  echo  of  his  own  statements,  wliicli  suited 
his  uncle's  needs  so  exactly  that  he  did  not  distinguish  them 
from  his  old  impressions. 

"  True,"  said  I'hilijD,  "  but  in  special  cases  we  have  to  do 
wit!:  special  conditions.  You  know  I  defend  the  casuists. 
,\nd  it  may  happen  that,  for  the  honor  of  the  Church  in 
Treby  and  a  little  also  for  my  honor,  circumstances  may  de- 
mand a  concession  even  to  some  notions  of  a  Dissenting 
preach'T." 

"Xot  at  all.  I  should  be  making  a  figure  Avhich  my  brother 
clergy  niigld-  well  take  as  an  affront  to  themselves.  The  char- 
acter of  the  Establishment  has  suffered  enough  already  through 
the  Evangelicals,  with  their  extempore  incoherence  and  their 
pipe-smoking  piety.  Look  at  Wimple,  the  man  who  is  vicar 
of  Shuttleton  —  without  his  gown  and  bands,  anybody  would 
take  him  for  a  grocrr  in  mourning. '' 

"Well,  I  shall  cut  a  still  worse  figure,  and  so  will  you,  in 
the  Dissenting  ma<j,-a/ini's  and  newspapcu's.  It  will  go  the 
round  of  the  kingdom.  There  AviTl  lie  a  paragraph  lieadtnl, 
'Toiy  Falsehood  and  Clerical  Cowardice."  or  else  'The  ]Mean- 
ness  of  the  Aristocracy  and  the  Incompetence  of  the  I5eneficed 
Clergy.' " 

"Tlu're  would  bo  a  worse  parrigra]ih  if  T  were  to  consent  to 
the  deb;it(\  ()!'  course  it  W(»uM  l)c  said  that  1  was  l)eaten  hol- 
low, and  that  now  the  rpiestion  had  Ix-en.  (doared  up  at  Treby 
Abigna.  till'  Church  had  not  a  sound  Irg  to  stand  on.  r>esides,*' 
the  Ivt'ctoi'  went  on.  frowning  and  smiling.  ••  it  "s  all  very  wrll 
for  you  to  talk.  I'hil.  but  this  debating  is  not  so  easy  when  a 
man  "s  (dosi^  upon  sixty.  What  ono  writes  oi'  sa^ys  must  be 
sometliing  good  and  scholarly;  atn!  afttn-  all  had  been  dono, 
this  little  Lyon  would  Imzz  about  one  liki'  ;i  was]i,  and  rross- 
questiou  and  njoiu.  Let  mo  ti'll  ynu.  a  plain  truth  may  be 
so  worried  and  niauh'd  by  fallacii  >  as  to  l;vi  tlic  v.  orst  of  it. 
ThtTe  "s  no  such  thing  as  tirin,  a  talking  inachiiir  like  Lyon." 

'•Tlicn  you  abs(dutely  refuse  '.' " 

'•Y.'s.  T  do."' 

VOL.     III. 


242  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

"You  remember  that  when  I  wrote  my  letter  of  thanks  to 
Lyon  you  approved  my  offer  to  serve  him  if  possible." 

"Certainly  I  remember  it.  But  suppose  he  had  asked  you 
to  vote  for  civil  marriage,  or  to  go  and  hear  him  preach  every 

Hun.  I  ay  ?  •' 

'•  J>ut  lie  has  not  asked  that." 

'■'  Something  as  uuri-asonable,  though." 

"  Well,"  said  Philip,  taking  up  Mv.  Lyon's  letter  and  look- 
i:;g  graver  —  looking  even  vexed,  ''it  is  rather  an  unpleasant 
business  for  me.  I  really  felt  obliged  to  him.  I  think  there  "s 
a  sort  of  worth  in  tlie  man  beyond  his  class;  Whatever  may 
bo  tlio  reason  of  tlie  case,  I  shall  disajipoint  him  instead  of 
doing  liinr  the   servii-e   I   offered." 

"Well,  that  's  a  misfortune;  we  can't  help  it." 

'•'Tlie  worst  of  it  is,  I  should  be  insulting  him  to  say,  'I  will 
do  anything  else,  but  not  just  this  tliat  you  want.'  He  evi- 
dently f(^els  himself  in  <''ompany  with  Lutlier  and  Zwingle 
■dvA  (,'alvin,  and  considers  our  letters  part  of  the  history  of 
Proti^stantism." 

"  Yes,  yes.  I  know  it's  rather  \n  unpleasant  thing,  Pliil. 
You  are  aware  tliat  T  Avould  liave  dojie  an3'thing  in  reason  to 
}»r(^vent  you  from  Ix-coming  un[)opular  here.  I  consider  yonr 
character  a  possession  to  all  of  us." 

"1  think   I  must  call  on  him   forthwith  and  explain  and 

apoh.)gi/.r'.'' 

'■'X'>,  -it  still;  T'vp  thon.ght  of  somethin',^"  snid  the  Pcetor. 
Avilli  a  su(M"n  r'-viv;d  of  soivits.  '•' I '\-i'  just  s^cn  Slici-lock 
.■•onring  in.  TI''  is  to  bineh  with  nK'  to-'i:iy.  Tt  wnnld  do  no 
ha/m  ior  hini  to  liohl  tli"  d"b;itr'  —  ;i  eur::!!'  and   a   young  man 

—  !!'■  il  ,'4'iiM  by  it ;  ;niil  it  Avonld  ri'h';!<).'  yon  fi'oni  any  awk- 
Avai-ib:i'-s,  I'liij.  Shprlock  is  not  goiu',;'  to  stay  bore  long,  yon 
hn.d--,-:  h-'ll  ^nnn  h:ivf  his  title  T 'll  put  the  thing  to 
b:ni.  H"  \v::'i  cbjr.^.t  if  T  wis!;  it.  It's  a  cnpital  idea.  Tt 
•\  ill  do  Sli'  !-h  f'k  crood.  Tie's  a  ch-ver  j'ellow,  Imt  he  wants 
('onf!'i"nfr." 

j'hib,  ji  ];'(•;  T\"f  ^-'vi\'-  f'l  f.]i'-f't   ])(-f'<y    '^•h\  Slierloek  appeared 

—  a,  y.':un'_r  <:i-.-''!"  <  f  -fiv]  liirth  aiul  ii.,nire,  of  sallow  complex- 
.. 'jj.  and  bashful  addrc-s. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  243 

*'  Sherlock,  you  liave  come  in  most  opportunely,"  said  the 
Rector.  "  A  case  has  turned  up  in  the  parish  in  which  you 
can  be  of  eminent  use.  I  know  that  is  what  you  have  desired 
ever  since  you  have  been  with  me.  l^iit  I  'm  about  so  much 
myself  that  there  really  has  not  been  sphere  enough  for  you. 
You  ar(>  a  studious  man,  I  know ;  I  dare  say  you  have  all  the 
necessary  matter  prepared  —  at  your  finger-ends,  if  not  on 
paper."' 

INLr.  Sherlock  smiled  with  rather  a  trembling  lip,  willing  to 
distinguish  himself,  but  hoping  that  the  Rector  only  alluded 
to  a  dialogue  on  Raptism  by  Aspersion,  or  some  other  pam- 
phlet suited  to  the  purposes  of  the  Christian  Knowledge  So- 
ciety. Rut  as  the  Rector  proceeded  to  unfold  the  circum- 
stances under  which  his  eminent  service  was  to  be  rendered, 
he  grew  more  and  more  nervous. 

'•You'll  oblige  me  very  much,  Sherlock,"  the  Rector  ended, 
''by  going  into  this  thing  zealously.  Can  you  guess  what 
time  you  Avill  recpiire  ?  because  it  will  rest  with  us  to  fix  the 
day."' 

"I  slionld  be  rejoiced  to  oblige  you,  INIr.  Debarry,  but  I 
really  tliiid':  T  am  not  ecimpetent  to  — " 

"That's  your  modesty,  Sherlock.  Don't  let  me  hear  any 
more  of  that.  I  know  I'^ilmoi'e  of  Corpus  said  you  might  be 
a  lirst-rate  man  if  your  diffidence  didn't  do  you  injustice. 
Anil  you  can  refer  anything  to  me,  you  know.  Come,  you 
will  si't  about  tlie  tiling  at  once.  R>ut,  Rhil,  _vou  must  tell  the 
])reachcr  to  send  a  seheiue  of  the  (h^bate  —  all  tlie  different 
h(^ads  —  and  he  must  agrco  to  keep  rigidly  within  the  scheme. 
There,  sit  down  at  my  desk  and  write  the  letter  now;  Thomas 
shall  carry  it." 

I'liilij)  sat  down  to  write,  and  the  Rector,  with  his  firm 
ringing  voice,  vrent  on  at  his  ease,  giving  '-indications"  to 
his  agitated  curate. 

'•R'Ut  you  can  begin  at  once  preparing  a  good,  cogent,  clear 
statement,  and  considering  the  pi'obable  points  of  assault. 
Yon  e;ui  look  into  Jewel,  Hall,  Hooker,  Whil-ift,  and  tlie 
r(>st  :  you'll  fiml  them  all  here.  'My  lil)rai'y  waiii,>  notliing  in 
English  divinity.      Sketch  the  lower  ground  taken  by  Us^-e: 


244  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

and  those  men,  but  bring  all  your  force  to  bear  on  marking 
out  the  true  High-Church  doctrine.  Expose  the  wretched 
cavils  of  the  Xonconformists,  and  the  noisy  futility  that  be- 
longs to  schismatics  generally.  I  will  give  you  a  telling  pas- 
sage from  Burke  on  the  Dissenters,  and  some  good  quotations 
which  I  brought  together  in  two  sermons  of  my  own  on  the 
I'osition  of  the  English  Church  in  Christendom.  How  long 
do  you  think  it  will  take  you  to  bring  your  thoughts  together? 
You  can  throw  them  afterwards  into  the  form  of  an  essay; 
we  '11  have  the  thing  printed  ;  it  will  do  you  good  with  the 
Bishop." 

With  all  'Mv.  Sherlock's  timidity,  there  was  fascination  for 
him  in  this  distinction.  He  reflected  that  he  could  take  cof- 
fee and  sit  up  late,  and  perhaps  produce  something  rather  fine. 
It  might  be  a  first  step  towards  that  eminence  which  it  was 
no  more  than  his  duty  to  aspire  to.  Even  a  polemical  fame 
like  that  of  a  I'hilpotts  must  have  had  a  beginning.  ]\Ir. 
Sherlock  was  not  insensible  to  the  pleasure  of  turning  sen- 
tences successfully,  and  it  was  a  pleasure  not  always  uncon- 
nected with  preferment.  A  diffident  man  likes  the  idea  of 
doing  something  remarkable,  which  will  create  Ijelief  in  him 
without  any  immediate  display  of  brilliancy.  Celebrity  may 
blush  and  be  silent,  and  win  a  grace  the  more.  TJius  .Mr. 
Sherlock  was  constraiiuul,  trendjling  all  the  while,  and  much 
wishing  that  his  (!ssay  were  already  in  print. 

'■I  tliiiik  r  could  hardly  be  ready  under  a  fortnigiit." 

'•Very  good.  .Just  wi'ite  that,  Bhil,  and  tell  him  to  fix  the 
preei.-,e  day  and  }jlace.     And  then  we'll  go  to  lunch." 

■|'lie  Jtectnr  Ava.s  rpiite  satisfied.  He  had  talked  himself  into 
thiiikiuLr  that  lie  should  like  to  give  Slierlock  a  few  useful 
hints,  look  n[)  his  own  earlier  sermons,  and  Ijejielit  tlie  (,'ui'ate 
by  his  critieisiii.  when  the  argument  had  been  got  into  shape. 
!le  was  a  he;dt,h\'-nat  ured  man.  but  that  was  not  at  all  a  rea- 
sr)n  why  he  should  not  have  those  sensibilities  to  the  odor  of 
authorshi])  which  belong  to  alnujst  everybody  who  is  n(jt  ex- 
pected to  be  a  wi-it.er  —  luid  especially  to  that  form  of  author- 
shiji  which  is  calh'd  suggestion,  and  consists  in  telling  another 
man  that  he  might  do  a  great  deal  with  a  given  subject,  by 


FELIX   HOLT,    Tlir:    RADICAL.  245 

bringing  a  sufficient  amount  of  knowledge,  reasoning,  and  wit 
to  bear  upon  it. 

Philip  would  have  had  some  twinges  of  conscience  about  the 
("urate,  if  lie  had  not  guessed  that  the  honor  thrust  upon  him 
was  not  altogether  disagreeable.  The  Church  might  perhaps 
have  had  a  stronger  supporter ;  but  for  himself,  he  had  done 
what  he  was  bound  to  do :  he  had  done  his  best  towards 
fultilling  Mr.  Lyon's  desire. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

If  he  come  uot,  the  play  is  marred.  —  Midsummer  Nir/ht'a  Dream. 

RuFT's  Lvox  was  very  happy  on  that  mild  Xovenibei'  morn. 
ing  Tippointed  lor  the  great  conference  in  the  larger  room  at 
the  Free  School,  between  himself  and  the  Rev.  Theodore 
Sherlock,  B.  A.  The  disappointiuent  of  not  contending  with 
the  Rector  in  person,  which  had  at  lirst  been  bitter,  had  beeir 
gradually  lost  sight  of  in  the  positive  enjoyment  of  an  oppor- 
tunity for  debating  on  any  term.s.  ]\Ir.  Lyon  had  two  grand 
elements  of  pleasure  on  such  occasions  :  confidence  in  the 
strength  of  his  case,  and  confidence  in  his  own  jiower  of  advo- 
cacy. Xot  —  to  use  liis  own  })hrase  —  not  that  he  '•' glorihod 
himself  herein  ;  "  f(jr  speech  and  exposition  ^^•ere  so  easy  to 
him,  that  if  lu^  argued  forcibly,  he  believed  it  to  ])e  simply 
because  the  truth  was  forcilile,  He  was  not  proud  of  moving 
easily  in  his  native  medium.  A  ]ianiing  man  thinks  of  hiiu- 
sell'  as  a  clever  s\\  immer  ;  but  a  fish  swims  much  better,  and. 
takes  his  performanet^  as  a  UKitt''!'  of  course. 

Whetlier  Mr.  Sherlock  were  ;]ial  ii.inting.  self-gratulat ing 
man,  remained  a  secret.  I'hilij)  P'Oarry,  much  occupi<'d  with 
his  electioneei'im:  atfairs,  had  only  onc-e  had  an  o]i[)Ortunity 
of  asking  his  uncle  liow  Shei'lnck  got  on.  aii'l  the  Ib^ctor 
haii  said,    curtlyj  ••  1    think   he  "11  do.      I've   su]>plied   liim  well 


24G  FELIX   HOLT.   THE   RADICAL. 

with  references.  I  advise  him  to  read  only,  and  decline  every- 
thing else  as  out  of  order.  Lyon  will  speak  to  a  point,  and 
then  Slierlock  will  read  :  it  will  be  all  the  more  telling.  It 
will  give  variety."  But  on  this  particular  morning  perem}> 
tory  business  connected  with  the  magistracy  called  the  Rector 
away. 

Due  notice  Lad  been  given,  and  the  feminine  world  of  Treby 
Magna  was  nuu'h  more  agitated  by  tlie  prospect  than  by  that 
of  any  candidate's  speech,  ^ilrs.  Pendrell  at  the  Bank,  Mrs. 
'I'iliot,  and  the  Church  ladies  generally,  felt  liound  to  hear  the 
Curate,  who  was  known,  apj)arently  by  an  intuition  concern- 
ing tiie  nature  of  curates,  to  be  a  very  clever  young  man  ;  and 
he  would  show  them  what  learning  had  to  say  on  the  right 
side.  One  or  two  Dissenting  ladifs  were  not  wirliout  emotion 
at  the  thought  that,  seated  on  tiie  fiont  benches,  they  should 
be  brought  near  to  old  Church  friends,  and  have  a  longer 
greeting  than  had  taken  plaee  since  the  Catholic  Enumcipa- 
tion.  Islvs.  ^Nltiscat,  who  had  been  a  beauty,  and  was  ;is  nice 
in  her  millineiy  as  any  Trebian  lady  belonging  to  the  Estab- 
lishment, reflected  that  she  shotild  ])ut  on  her  best  large  em- 
broidered collar,  and  that  she  should  ask  .Mrs.  Tiliot  where  it 
was  in  Duffield  that  she  onc(^  got  lier  bed-hangings  dyed  so 
beaTitifully.  When  ^Irs.  Tiliot  was  'Mavy  Salt,  the  two  ladies 
had  l)een  liosom  friends  :  but  ^\v.  Tiliot  had  looked  higlun' 
and  higher  sinci^  his  gin  had  beeome  so  famous  ;  and  in  the 
year  "29  he  had.  in  IMr.  IMusenfs  heariiiu'.  spoken  of  Dissenters 
as  sneaks  —  a  ])ersona]ity  wliieh  eouM  not  be  overlooked. 

'IMie  deliate  was  to  begin  ;it  eleven,  for  the  lieetor  would  not 
.alhjw  t]:e  evening  to  l)e  cliosen,  wlien  low  men  and  boys  might 
want  to  be  admitted  out  of  mere  nrischiid'.  This  was  one 
reason  why  the  female  ]iart  of  the  audience  outnuml)ered  the 
males.  r>ut  some  chi<'f  Trebians  \\-ei'c  there.  (>ven  men  whrise 
means  made  them  as  in(le])endent  of  theory  as  Mi'.  I'endrell 
and  j\Ir.  ^^'a(•e  ;  eneoui'aged  b}'  retheting  that  they  were  not 
in  a  place  of  woishi]!.  and  wordd  n^t  ])e  ohligod  to  stay  longer 
■'  an  they  chose.  'Idiere  was  a  niuster  of  all  Dissenters  who 
onld  S])are  thenioiniim-  time,  and  (la  tht-  baek  benches  were 
all  tlie  aged  ChurcliwiHuen  who   shared   tlie  remnants  of  tl." 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  247 

sacrament  wine^  a,ncl  wlio  were  humbly  anxious  to  neglect 
nothing  ecclesiastical  or  connected  with  '•  going  to  a  better 
place." 

At  eleven  the  arrival  of  listeners  seemed  to  have  ceased. 
Mr.  Lyon  was  seated  on  the  school  tribune  or  dais  at  his  par- 
ticular round  table;  another  round  table,  with  a  chair,  awaited 
ihc  Curate,  with  whose  superior  position  it  was  quite  in  keep- 
ing: that  he  should  not  be  iirst  on  the  ground.  A  eou])le  <  f 
'■xiv;\  chiiirs  Avere  })laced  farther  back,  and  more  than  one  im- 
portant personage  had  been  requested  to  act  as  chairniau  ;  but 
un  Churchman  would  })lace  himself  in  a  position  so  equivocal 
as  to  dignity  df  aspect,  and  so  unequivocal  as  to  the  obligation 
of  sitting  out  the  discussion  ;  and  the  Rector  had  beforehand 
put  a   vct(j   on   any   Disscmting  ciiairman. 

Mr  Lyon  sat  ])atiently  absorbed  in  his  thoughts,  v/ith  his 
notes  in  minute  luindwriting  lying  before  him,  seeming  to 
locjk  at  the  audience,  but  not  seeing  them.  Every  one  else 
was  'Hintented  that  tliere  should  be  an  interval  in  which  there 
couid  he  a  litth-  nei^hliorly  talk. 

EsthtT  was  ])ait  icularly  happy,  seated  on  a  sided)ench  near 
her  father's  ^ide  of  the  tribune,  with  Pelix  (dose  btdund  her, 
so  that  sh(>  could  turn  her  head  and  talk  to  him.  He  had 
been  verv  kind  cA'er  since  that  morning  when  she  had  called 
at  liis  home,  more  disposed  to  listen  indulgently  to  what  she 
had  to  say.  and  less  blind  to  her  looks  and  movennuits.  If  he 
had  never  railed  at  lier  or  ignored  her,  she  would  have  been 
less  sensitive  to  the  attention  lu>  gTive  her;  but  as  it  was,  the 
jirospiM'u  ol"  seeing  him  seemed  to  light  up  her  life,  and  to  dis- 
](erse  the  ohl  dulness.  She  looked  unusually  charming  to-day, 
i'rom  the  vrr\-  !':!ct  that  she  w;i.s  nut  vividly  ei.ai,Tcious  of  any- 
tliing  but  ol'  having  a  nnnd  rear  titu'  that  asked  her  to  be 
something  Ix'tter  than  slie  actually  was.  The  consciousness 
ol'  her  own  suiperiority  aniong>t  th"  ])eopL>  around  her  was 
su])ei\seded,  and  even  a  few  briei  weeks  liad  given  a  softeii"  1 
ex[)i'essi(jn  to  her  eyes,  a  meri-  ieniiuine  beseechingness  and 
self-dcubt  to  her  manners  I'erhaps.  however,  a  li'tlc  n{>w 
detiance  was  risiuLi'  in  jilace  of  tln'  old  contempt  —  detiance  of 
the  Trebian  views  concerniiii,'-  Felix  Holt. 


218  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

"  What  a  very  nice-looking  young  woman  your  minister's 
daughter  is  ! "  said  Mrs.  Tiliot  in  an  undertone  to  Mrs.  Muscat, 
who,  as  she  had  hoped,  had  found  a  seat  next  to  her  quondam 
friend  —  "  quite  the  lady." 

"  Rather  too  much  so,  considering,"  said  Mrs,  Muscat. 
"  She  's  thought  proud,  and  that 's  not  pretty  in  a  girl,  even 
if  there  was  anything  to  back  it  up.  But  now  she  seems  to 
be  encouraging  that  young  Holt,  who  scoffs  at  everything,  as 
you  may  judge  by  his  appearance.  She  has  despised  his 
betters  before  now  ;  Imt  I  leave  you  to  judge  whether  a  young 
man  who  has  taken  to  low  ways  of  getting  his  living  can  pay 
for  fine  cambric  handkerchiefs  and  light  kid  gloves." 

Mrs.  ]\ruscat  lowered  her  blond  eyelaslies  and  swayed  her 
neat  head  just  perceptibly  from  side  to  side,  with  a  sincere 
desire  to  be  moderate  in  her  expressions,  notwithstanding  any 
sliock  that  facts  might  have  given  her. 

''Dear,  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Tiliot.  "What !  that  is  young  Holt 
leaning  forward  now  without  a  cravat  ?  I  've  never  seen  him 
before  to  notice  him,  but  I  've  heard  Tiliot  talking  about  him. 
They  say  he  's  a  dangerous  character,  and  goes  stirring  up  the 
working  men  at  Sproxton.  And  —  well,  to  be  sure,  such  great 
eyes  and  such  a  great  head  of  hair  —  it  is  enough  to  frighten 
one.      Wliat  can  slie  see  in  him  ?     Quite  below  her." 

"  Yes,  and  brouglit  up  a  governess,"  said  Mrs.  jNfuscat ; 
"you  'd  ]iav(>  thought  slie  'd  know  better  how  to  choose.  T>ut 
tlie  minister  has  let  her  get  the  upper  hand  sadly  too  much, 
tt  's  a  ])ity  in  a  man  of  (lod.     T  don't  deny  lie  "s  fJint.'" 

"  Well,  1  am  sorry,"  said  J\lrs.  Tiliot,  "'  for  T  nieant  her  to 
give  my  girls   lessons   when   tli(\y  came    from   school." 

Mr.  Wace  and  Mr.  Pendrell  meanwliile  were  standing  up  and 
looking  I'ound  at  the  a\uli<'n('e,  nodding  to  tluMr  f(>l]ow-towns- 
peoph>  wilk  llie  affability  due  from  men  m  their  jiosition. 

"  It 's  time  he  came  now."  said  Mi'.  Wace,  looking  at  his 
watch  and  comi)ariiig  it  with  the  schoolroom  clock.  "This 
debating  is  a  lunvfanglcd  sort  of  thing;  but  the  T-Jector  would 
never  have  given  in  In  it  if  there  liad  n't  been  good  reasons. 
Xolan  said  he  would  n'l  coinc.  He  says  this  debating  is  an 
Uth  ■Iritical    sort   of    Lhiui^  ;    the   Atheists  are  very   fond    o\  it. 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL,  249 

Tlieirs  is  a  bad  book  to  take  a  leaf  out  of.  However,  we 
shall  hear  nothing  but  what 's  good  from  ]Vlr.  Sherlock.  He 
preaches  a  capital  sermon  —  for  such  a  young  man." 

"  W^'ll,  it  was  our  duty  to  sup})ort  him  —  not  to  leave  him 
alone  among  the  Dissenters,"  said  Mv.  I'endrell.  ''You  see, 
ever3'body  has  n't  felt  that.  Labron  might  have  shown  him- 
self, if  not  Lukyn.  I  could  have  alleged  business  myself  if  I 
had  thought  proper." 

''  1  [ere  he  comes,  I  think,"  said  Mr.  Wace,  turning  round  on 
hearing  a  movement  near  the  small  door  on  a  level  with  the 
platform.  "P>y  George!  it's  ^Mr.  Debarry.  Come  now,  this 
is  handsome." 

Mr.  A\'ace  and  Mr,  I'endrell  clapped  their  hands,  and  the 
exa,m})le  was  f(dlowed  even  by  most  of  tlu'  Dissenters.  Philip 
was  aware  that  he  was  doing  a  popular  thing,  of  a  kind  tliat 
TreVn'  was  not  used  to  from  tlie  elder  Debarry s  ;  but  his 
a])pearaiu'e  had  not  been  long  ])remeditated.  lie  was  driving 
through  the  town  towards  an  engagement  at  some  distance, 
but  on  calling  at  Labron's  ortice  lit^  had  found  that  the  affair 
which  demanded  his  jiresence  had  betMi  deferred,  and  so  liad 
driven  round  to  the'  Free  School.  Christian  came  in  beliind 
hini. 

^^r,  Lyon  was  now  roused  from  liis  abstraction,  and.  step- 
ping "rom  liis  sliglit  elevation,  begged  Mr.  Debai'ry  to  act  as 
modernttir  or  president  on  tlie  occasion. 

"With  all  my  heart."  said  Tiiilip.  "  I'.ut  Mr.  Sherlock  has 
not  arrived,  ap])ai-ently  ?  " 

'•He  tarries  somewhat  unduly.""  said  Mi-,  Lyon.  ''Xever- 
theless  there  may  be  a  ivason  ef  wliieh  we  know  not.  Shall 
I  ('(illect  the  thoughts  of  the  assembly  by  a  l.irief  introductory 
address  in  the  intei'val  ?" 

'•Xo.  no.  no,"'  said  Mr.  "Wace.  \v]]()  saw  a  limit  to  his  -[jowers 
of  endurance.  ''Mr.  Shei'Iorl;  is  sure  to  be  here  in  a  minute 
or  two."" 

'■•  Clii-istian."  said  Philiii  Deltarry.  who  felt  a  slight  mis'^-iv- 
iiig.  '-just  be  so  good  —  but  stay.  T  "11  go  mvself.  l']xcnse  iiie. 
gentlemen:  T  "11  drive  round  to  Mr.  Sherlock's  Indgmrs.  Ue 
mav  be   un.ler  a  little   niistah'.    :is  to  the  time.      Stiulimis   men 


250  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

are  sometimes  rather  absent.  You  need  n't  come  with  me, 
Christian." 

As  Mr.  Debarry  went  out,  Rufus  Lyon  stepped  on  to  the 
tribune  again  in  rather  an  inieasy  state  of  mind.  A  few  ideas 
had  occurred  to  him,  eminently  fitted  to  engage  the  audience 
profitably,  and  so  to  wrest  some  edification  out  of  an  unforeseen 
delay.  15ut  his  native  delicacy  made  him  feel  that  in  this  as- 
sembly the  Church  people  might  fairly  decline  any  "deliver- 
ance "  on  his  part  which  exceeded  the  programme,  and  Mr. 
Wace's  negative  had  been  energetic,  fhit  the  little  man  suf- 
fered from  imprisoned  ideas,  and  was  as  restless  as  a  racer 
held  in.  lie  could  not  sit  down  again,  but  walked  backwards 
and  forwards,  stroking  his  chin,  emitting  his  low  guttural  in- 
terjection under  the  pressure  of  clauses  and  sentences  which 
he  longed  to  utter  aloud,  as  he  would  have  done  in  his  own 
study.  There  was  a  low  buzz  in  the  room  which  helped  to 
deej)en  the  minister's  sense  that  the  thoughts  within  him  Avere 
as  divine  messeng(!rs  unheeded  or  rejected  by  a  trivial  genera- 
tion. Many  of  the  audience  were  standing;  all,  except  the 
old  Churchwomen  on  the  back  seats,  and  a  few  devout  Dis- 
senters who  kept  their  eyes  shut  and  gave  their  bodies  a  gentle 
oscillating  motion,  were  interested  in  chat. 

"  Your  father  is  uneasy,"  said  Felix  to  Esther. 

"Yes;  and  now,  I  think,  he  is  i'eeling  for  his  sjiectficles. 
I  ho])0  he  has  not  left  them  at  home  :  he  will  nut  Ix'  able  to 
see  anything  two  yards  before  him  without  them;  —  and  it 
makes  him  so  unconscious  of  what  jieople  ex])ect  or  want." 

'•  I  '11  go  and  ask  him  whether  he  has  them,"  said  Fcdix, 
striding  over  the  form  in  front  of  him,  and  a])]»roacliing  Mr. 
Lyon,  whose  lace  shoAved  a  gleam  of  ])leasure  at  this  redief 
i'rom  his  ;tbstraeted  isokition. 

"  Miss  Lyon  is  afraid  that  you  are  at  a  loss  for  your  specta- 
cles, sir,"  said  J''(dix. 

"My  dear  youn^'  friend,"  said  ^Ir.  Lyon,  laying  his  hand  on 
FeMx  ilolfs  foi'r'-arm,  which  was  about  on  a  level  with  the 
minister's  shoidder,  "  it  is  a  very  gh)i'i(jus  truth,  albeit  made 
somewhat  ])ainful  to  rne  by  the  circumstances  of  the  present 
nujment,  that  as  a  counterpoise  to  the  brevity  of  our  mortal 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   KADICAL.  251 

life  (wherein,  as  I  ap})relieiid,  our  powers  are  being  trained 
not  only  for  the  transmission  of  an  improved  heritage,  as  I 
have  heard  you  insist,  but  also  for  our  own  entrance  into  a 
higher  initiation  in  the  Divine  scheme)  — it  is,  I  say,  a  very 
glorious  trutl),  that  even  in  what  are  called  the  waste  minutes 
of  our  time,  like  those  of  ex^iectution,  the  soul  may  soar  and 
range,  as  in  some  of  our  dreams  which  are  brief  as  a  broken 
rainbow  in  duration,  yet  seem  to  comprise  a  long  history  of 
terror  or  of  jo\'.  And  again,  each  moment  may  be  a  beginning 
of  a  new  s})iritual  energy  5  and  our  pulse  would  doubtless  be 
a  coarse  and  clumsy  notation  ol  the  passage  from  that  which 
was  not  to  that  which  is,  even  in  the  finer  processes  of  the 
aiaterial  worhl  —  and  how  nimdi  more  —  " 

Esther  was  watching  her  father  and  Felix,  and  though  she 
was  not  within  hearing  of  what  was  being  said,  she  guessed 
tlie  actual  slate  of  the  case  —  that  the  in(puiry  about  the  specta- 
cles had  bi'eu  unhee.ded,  and  that  her  father  was  losing  him- 
self and  embarrassing  Felix  in  the  intricacies  of  a  dissertation. 
There  was  not  the  stillness  around  her  that  would  have  made 
a  movement  on  her  })ar't  seem  cons[)icuous,  and  she  was  im- 
pelk'd  by  her  anxiety  to  step  on  the'  tribune  and  walk  up  to 
her  father,  wiio  paused,  a  little  startled. 

'•  i^ray  see  whether  you  have  forgotten  your  spectacles, 
father,      if  so,  I  will  go  liome  at  once  and  look  for  them," 

Mr.  L^Mni  was  automatieally  olitulient  to  Esther,  and  he 
began  immediattdy  to  feel  in  his  pockets. 

••'  How  is  it  that  Miss  dennyn  i,-^  so  I'ricr.dly  with  the  Dis- 
senting 'parson?'"'  said  Christian  to  (^'uorlen,  the  Toiy  printer, 
who  was  ui  '.itima!;e  of  his.  "  'I'hose  grand  Jermyns  are  not 
Dissenters  surelv  ?"' 

'•  ir/>,ft,  Miss  Jermyn?" 

••  Why  —  don't  you  see  ?  —  that  line  girl  who  is  talking  to 
Iiiin." 

"  Miss  Jermyn  !     ^^'h3".  tliat  "s  the  littl(>^  parson's  daughter.'' 

'•  liis  ilaughter  !"  Christian  gave  a  low  bi'ief  whistle,  which 
seemed  a  natural  ex|.)ression  oi'  sui'prise  tliat  ^-the  laisty 
old  ranter"  should  have  a  daughter  of  such  distinguished 
ap])earance. 


•2o'2  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   KADICAL. 

Meanwhile  the  search  for  the  spectacles  had  proved 
vain.  ••  'T  is  a  grievous  fault  in  me,  my  dear/"  said  the 
little  man,  humbly  ;  ••  I  become  thereby  sadly  burthensome 
tv  you."' 

••  I  will  go  at  once,"'  said  Esther,  refusing  to  let  Felix  go  in- 
stead of  lier.  l!ut  she  had  scarcely  stepped  off  the  tribune 
when  jIv.  Dtdjarry  re-entered,  and  there  was  a  commotion  which 
made  lier  wait.  After  a  low-toned  conversation  with  Mr.  l^en^ 
urell  and  ^Iv.  AVaee,  Philip  Debarry  stepped  on  to  the  tribune 
with  his  hat  in  his  hand,  and  said,  with  an  air  of  much  con- 
cern and  annoyance  — 

"I  am  sorry  to  have  to  tell  you,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  that 
—  dotibtiess  owing  to  some  aeeidental  cause  which  I  trust  will 
soon  be  explaineil  as  nothing  serious  —  ^Ir.  .Sherlock  is  absent 
from  his  residence,  and  is  not  to  be  found.  He  went  out  early, 
his  landlady  iniurms  me,  to  refresh  himself  by  a  walk  on  this 
agreeable  morning,  as  is  his  habit,  she  tells  me,  when  he  has 
been  kept  up  late  by  study;  and  he  has  not  returned.  Do  not 
let  us  be  too  aiixidus.  1  shall  cause  inrpiiry  to  be  made  in  the 
direction  oi  lii>  wallc.  It  is  easy  to  imagine  many  accidents, 
not  of  a  grave  cliaracte]'.  by  which  he  might  nevertheless  be 
ab.--olutely  detai!ied  against  liis  will.  Uinler  these  circum- 
stancrs,  ]\[r.  Lyon,"'  cr,utinued  I'liilip.  turning  to  the  minister, 
'•  1  jiresume  that  the  (L-bate  mu-t  be  ailji  iur]n?d."' 

•■  Tli!'  deliate,  duubtle.-s.'"  bi'gan  ]\Ir.  Lyoii ;  but  his  ftirther 
r-jii-'cli  v.-as  drovrncd  by  a  gi-neral  rising  of  the  Cluirch  peo- 
ple Ir.aa  tlaar  seats,  many  of  tliein  feeling  tliat.  even  if  the 
r;;;;.-.-  wrre  lan.entable,  the  ai.ljournment  was  not  altogether 
;li.-a;_:a'efalile. 

••(i(md  gi-aciiius  m<'  ! "'  saiil  l\rrs.  Tiliot.  as  she  took  her  hus- 
iiand's  am;.  ■■  1  iinjic  tlu'  poor  young  man  has  n't  fallen  into  the 
I'iver  ( ■]■  bi .  kfii  his  Icl;-."" 

r.ut  sdiii'-  ni  the  mci'e  acrid  JM-seutcrs.  Avhose  temper  was 
liot  ctintri.r.-a  by  tbt-  luibits  of  retail  biisin<'ss.  liail  begun  to 
1, ::-■-.  ini]'!;-  i:.,  '-..t  in  ila-ir  interpi-rtatiiai  tii?'  Curate's  absence 
L:al  not  d'-i"  mc'ii  on  any  injui'v  to  iiiV  ot  lind). 

■■lf.'\  lurm-l  t::il.  sure  enou;:]i."'  said  3Ir.  iMiiscat  to  the 
rc'iglibor  behind  hini,  lilting  his  eyebrows  and  shoulders,  aud 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  f>o.3 

laughing?  in  a  way  tliat  showed  tliat,  deacon  as  he  was,  he 
looked  ut  the  affidr  in  an  entirely  .seeular  light. 

But  ]Mrs.  iMiiscat  thought  it  would  be  nothing  Lut  right  to 
liave  all  the  waters  dragged,  agreeing  iu  this  with  the  majority 
of  the  Church  ladies. 

'•  \  regret  sincendy,  Mr.  Lyon,"'  said  Philip  Debarry,  address- 
ing the  minister  with  p  .liteness,  "that  I  must  say  good  morn- 
ing to  you,  with  th.'  sense  that  I  have  ui)i  been  able  at  present 
to  contribute  to  your  satisfaction  as  I  had  wished." 

''  Speak  not  of  it  in  th'-  way  (.)f  a[)c)logy,  sir,''  said  IMr.  Lyon, 
in  a  tone  of  depression.  '•  1  ddubt  not  that  you  yourself  have 
acted  in  good  faith.  Xor  will  I  open  any  door  of  egress  to 
constructions  such  as  anger  often  deems  ingenious,  but  which 
the  disclosure  of  :he  sim})le  truth  nuiy  .xpose  as  erroneous  and 
uncharitable  fabrications.     I  wish  you  good  morinng,  sir." 

When  the  room  w;is  cleared  of  the  '^Jhurcli  people,  Mr.  Lyon 
wished  to  soothe  his  own  spi/d  and  that  of  his  flock  by  a  few 
reflections  nitroductory  to  a  parting  prayer.  ]!ut  there  was  a 
general  resistance  to  this  effort.  Tlie  men  mustered  I'ound  the 
minister,  and  deelai'ed  tlndr  iduiou  that  tlie  who"  ^  thing  was 
disgractd'ul  to  the  ('liurrli.  Some  said  the  Curate's  bsence 
had  been  conti'ived  fr(<m  the  first.  Others  more  than  hinted 
that  it  had  been  a  t'.'lh'  in  Mi'.  T  you  to  s.-t  on  fot)t  any  i)ro- 
cedure  in  common  ^\•ith  Tories  and  (dergynien,  who,  if  they 
ever  aped  civility  to  Dissenters,  avouM  ucwr  do  anytlueg  Init 
laugh  at  them  in  tlicir  sleeves,  lirother  Ivemp  urged  in  his 
he;ivy  ba>-^  that  Mv.  f.^'on  -:.houliI  lose  no  time-  in  sending  an 
account  of  the  afiair  to  tlie  •  I'larioi;"  and  Lj'otlier  JIawlvins, 
in  his  high  tenor,  observed  tiiar  it  was  im  oee:!sii)n  on  wlin  li 
some  stinging  things  nnght  be  siiid  w  irli  all  the  extra  eft'ect  (d' 

an  (ijn-njins. 

The  [)ositioii  of  receixiii'j,'  :,  man y-voieeil  lertnre  i'rom  tlie 
members  of  his  chui'ch  w;is  iunii'.iar  to  .Mr.  J,\'i)n;  luit  laiW 
he  felt  weary,  fru>irated,  mn!  liiUibtlul  (.1'  his  own  teiujier. 
l-'elix.  wlio  stood  by  and  S:i\v  i'i;ir  I 
was  >nriefing  from  talh:ev-.  .v---  \-^< 
notliin^.  iret  ;'xa-]i'-!'a  ted.  ■•  I  *  ,  :■ 
with  his  }M-evlondhant  vcoe.  ■•  hi-  e,   . 


man  of  ' 

en-'i  i"\ 

■e    h.bre 

U[)erfir'i' 

;il'\-     e.  '; 

-'    ihem 

i  me.  ^ii-. 

,■■  1  '    i  ■ 

■:.-'  in. 

Lvon  ha- 

^  ;oi  liv-: 

r.o  had 

254  FELIX   HOLT,    THE  RADICAL. 

the  hard  })art  of  tlie  business,  while  you  of  his  congregation 
have  had  tiis^  easy  one.  I'unish  the  Chureli  clergy,  if  you  like 
—  they  can  take  care  of  iheniselves.  But  don't  punish  your 
own  minister.  It  's  no  business  of  mine,  perhaps,  except  so 
far  as  fair-play  is  everybody's  business  ;  but  it  seems  to  me 
the  time  to  ask  Mr.  Lyon  to  take  a  little  rest,  instead  of 
setting  on  him  lilie  so  numy  wasps."' 

l>y  this  speech  iVdix  raised  a  displeasure  which  fell  on  the 
minister  as  well  as  on  himself;  but  he  gained  his  immediate 
end.  The  talkers  droiiped  off  after  a  slight  show"  of  })ersist- 
ence,  and  Mv.  Lyon  quitted  the  held  of  uo  condjat  with  a  small 
group  of  his  less  im])erious  friends,  to  whom  he  conhded  his 
intention  of  committing  his  argument  fully  to  paper,  and  for- 
warding it  to  a  discriminating  editor. 

'•But  regarding  personalities,"'  he  added,  '-'I  have  not  the 
same  clear  showing.  Fur,  say  that  this  young  man  was  pusil- 
laniaious  —  I  were  but  ill  provided  with  arguments  if  I  took 
my  stand  even  for  a  nioment  on  so  poor  an  irrelevancy  as  that 
because  one  curate  is  ill  furnished  therefore  Episcopacy  is 
false.  If  I  held  up  an.y  one  to  just  o!)!o(|uy,  it  would  be  the 
well-designated  Incumbent  of  this  parish,  who,  calling  himself 
one  of  the  Clnnndi  militant,  sonds  a  young  and  weakdcneed 
sub>titute  to  take  his  pdaee  in  the  light."' 

i\Ir.  I'liilip  Drbarry  did  not  ncgh^'t  to  mak(^  industrious 
in([uiry  coneerning  the  accidents  which  had  detained  tin;  Bev. 
Tht'oi'iore  Sherlock  on  his  morning  w;;lk.  Idiat  well-inten- 
tioned young  divine  was  seen  no  mori'  in  Treby  Magna.  But 
the  river  Avas  n(jt  di'agged.  for  by  tlie  evening  coach  the  Bector 
i'crci\rd  an  cxj)lanalory  letter.  The  Bev.  Tlieodorc's  agitation 
liad  iucrea.-ed  so  much  duiang  his  walk,  that  tlie  j.assing  coach 
had  been  a  means  of  (lelive]-anc(>  not  to  be  resisted;  and,  liter- 
ally at  tlie  eleveiitli  liour,  lie  had  liailed  and  mounted  the 
cheerlul  Tally-ho!  ami  carried  a-way  liis  ])ort:on  uf  the  debate 
iu  his  ]'Ock(.'t. 

But  the  ];.'i-f,ii-  Irid  subsequently  the  satisfaction  of  receiv- 
ing y\v.  >Shi'iloe]-;"s  paii!stald:i_':  production  in  print,  with  a 
d>edieation  to  the  B'ev.  August  as  Pebarry,  a  motto  iruin  St. 
fdirysostoiu,  and  otluu'  additions,  the  fruit  of  ri})ening  leisure. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  255 

He  was  "  sorry  for  poor  Sherlock,  wlu)  wanted  confidence  ; " 
but  he  was  convinced  tliat  for  liis  own  part  he  had  taken  the 
course  wliicli  under  the  circunistan('(\s  was  the  least  compro- 
mising to  the  Church.  Sir  .Maxinuis.  liowever,  observed  to  his 
son  and  brother  that  lie  liad  been  right  and  tliey  had  been 
wrong  as  to  the  danger  of  vague,  enormous  ex])ressions  of 
grntituili"  to  a  Dissenting  ]irea(']ier,  and  on  any  dii'ferences  of 
opiuiuu  seuiom  tailed  to  remind  them  of  that  precedent. 


chai'Tp:k  XXV. 

Yonr  [cll^w-iiuin  '  —  Diviilo  tlu^  epithet: 
S;iy  rjithiT,  yon  're  iliu  I'eilow,  ho  lli<;  man. 

WiiF.v  C'hristiiui  cjuitted  fir'  h'ree  Schoo]  with  tlie  discoveiy 
that  til''  vnnng  l;idy  wliosc  a[)})earance  had  iirsi  startli^d  him 
witli  an  iii(it'Hnal>]i'  inijiiTssion  m  the  market  place,  was  the 
daughter  oi'  tlie  old  Dissenting'  preaclier  wlio  had  shown  so 
niu(di  agitated  curiosity  ahead  Iiis  name,  he  felt  very  much 
like  an  uninitiateil  cln'ss-jilayei'  u  lio  sees  that,  the  pie-ces  are  in 
a  peculiar  position  on  the  b.oard.  and  miehr  o[»''n  the  way  for 
him  to  give  clicckmate.  ii'  he  only  knew  lu.w.  J']ver  since  his 
intei'viev\'  witli  dermyn.  Iris  mind  Iiad  been  occupied  with  tlie 
ciiai'ade  it  oil'ered  to  liis  iii'^N^niiit  v.  ^\  lial  was  IIk^  real  mean- 
in'^'  of  tlie  lawyer's  iiitei'csf  in  him.  ami  in  his  relations  with 
]Mauric(>  Christian  I'yrlil'te '.'  De;e  was  a  sc^eret  ;  and  secrets 
wert>  often  a  source  ol'  la'oiit.  ol'  iha.t  a^^a'eeable  kind  wjiieh 
involved  little  labor.  .ii-rmyn  had  hinted  at  profit  which 
might  ]>ossibly  ciaue  throiiL;-h  him  ;  but  Christian  said  in- 
waii'iily.  with  w(dhsafi>died  sidl-esirrin.  that  he  was  not  so  piti- 
aide  a  iiiiuv)m])oop  as  to  t  laist  d.'iinyi!.  ( )n  the  contrary,  the 
only  ]>r(d)li'm  before  hini  was  to  tiia!  out  bv  what  combination 
(d'  iiuh'pendent  kii"wleihj,-e  lie  i'(_iuld  outwit  Jermvn,  elud^'  aiiv 
purchase  the  attorney  had  on  huu  through  his  past  history, 


256  FELfX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

and  get  a  handsome  bonus,  by  which  a  somewhat  shattered 
man  of  ph-asure  might  live  well  vathout  a  master.  Clu'istian, 
having  early  exhausted  the  more  impulsive  delights  of  life, 
had  become  a  sober  calculator;  and  he  had  made  up  his  mind 
that,  for  a  man  who  had  long  ago  run  through  his  own  money, 
servitude  in  a  great  family  was  the  best  kind  of  retirement 
after  that  of  a  pensioner;  but  if  a  Ix'tter  chance  offered,  a 
})erson  of  talent  must  n(jt  let  it  sli})  through  his  fingers.  He 
held  various  ends  of  threads,  but  there  v/as  danger  in  pulling 
at  them  too  impa.tiently.  He  had  not  forgotten  the  surprise 
which  liad  made  him  drop  the  })unch-la<ll(^,  when  Mr.  Crowder, 
talking  in  the  steward's  room,  had  said  that  a  scamp  named 
Henry  Scaddon  had  been  eoucerned  in  a  lawsuit  about  the 
'J'ransome  estate.  Again,  Jermyn  was  the  family  lawyer  of 
ihe  Transomes  ;  he  knew  about  the  exchange  of  names  be- 
t\ve,-n  Scad'lon  and  ]'>ycliffe;  he  ch  arly  wanted  to  know  as 
mueli  as  lie  could  about  Bycliffe's  history.  The  conclusion 
Vi"as  not  rrniotc  that  Bycliffe  had  had  some  claim  on  the  Tran- 
sonie  proi)ert\-.  and  that  a  difficulty  had  arisen  from  his  being 
(•(jufounded  v/rth  Henrj'  Scaddon.  But  hitherto  the  other 
incident  wh.ieh  had  been  apparently  connected  with  the  inter- 
chanu-o  of  names  —  'My.  T^yon's  demand  tliat  he  should  write 
'l(nvn  tlie  name  ^Maurice  ('hristi;in.  accompanied  witli  the  ques- 
rioii  wlicther  that  were  his  whole  name  —  had  had  no  visi- 
'i:!e  link  with  the  infei-ences  arrived  at  through  Crf)wder  and 
dermyn. 

I'lie  discovery  made  tliis  morning  at  the  Fi'ce  School  tliat 
I-'>r]ier  was  the  daughtei'  oi'  the  Dissenting  i^reachcr  at  la<t 
ougu'ested  a  jiossible  link.  Until  tlu-n.  (diristian  had  not- 
known  v.d,\-  l-]>ther"s  face  had  imjn'cssed  him  so  ])eculiarly  ; 
but  the  nnin^ter's  cliiel'  as.-,(j(datioii  lor  lum  was  with  By- 
cliffe. and  iliat  association  sei'ved  as  a  flash  to  show  him 
that  l^sther's  features  and  expression,  and  still  more  her 
hearing,  now  ,^he  >;ood  and  walked.  I'evived  15yclilTe"s  image. 
])aughter'.'  1"liei-.'  were  vai'ious  ways  of  being  a  daughter. 
Suppose  this  AVei-e  a  ca-i'  of  ado]itio'i  :  su{iposc  Bycliffe  were 
bnown  to  l»e  dead,  oi-  tli<aiuh1  to  be  dead.  "  i'.egad.  if  tlie  old 
jiurson  had  fancied   tlie  ui'igiual  lather  was  come  to  life  again, 


FEIJX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  257 

it  was  enough  to  frighten  him  a  little.  Slow  and  steady," 
Christian  said  to  himself;  *' I '11  get  some  talk  with  the  old 
man  again.  He  's  safe  enough  :  one  ean  handle  him  without 
cutting  one's  s(df.  I  '11  tell  him  1  knew  Uycliffe,  and  was  Ids 
fellow-prisoner.  I'll  worm  out  the  iruth  about  this  daughter. 
Could  pretty  .Viiuette  liave  married  again,  and  married  this  little 
scarecrow  '■'     There  's  no  knowing  what  a  woman  will  not  lU)." 

Christian  could  see  no  distinct  result  for  himself  from  his 
imlustiy  :  but  if  there  were  to  be  any  such  result,  it  must  be 
reached  by  following  out  every  clew  ;  and  to  the  nondegal 
nuTid  there  are  dim  possibilities  in  law  and  heirship)  which 
prev."iit  any  issue  from  seeming  too  miraculous. 

The  consrcpience  of  these  meditations  was,  that  Christian 
hung  about  Treby  more  than  usual  in  his  leisure  time,  and 
that  on  the  first  opportunity  he  accosted  ?.Ir.  Lyon  in  the 
street  with  suitable  civility,  stating  that  since  the  occasion 
which  had  brought  them  together  some  weeks  befoi'e  he  had 
iften  wished  to  riMiev,-  tli.dr  conversation,  and,  with  }<lv.  Lyon's 
iirrmission,  would  n()>.\'  ask  to  d(3  so.  After  being  assured,  as 
lie  had  been  by  derm}  ii,  that  this  courit  r.  wlio  had  happened 
bv  some  accident  to  possess  the  meiiKnvude  locket  and  pocket- 
ii()()k,  was  certainly  not  Aunctte's  liusband,  and  was  ignorant 
wlirther  iNIaurice  Christian  l)}cliffe  were  living  or  dead,  the 
minister's  mind  hail  b(.'come  easy  ag;iin  ;  his  lial)itual  lack  of 
intei't'st  in  i)crsoiial  details  rendering  him  gradually  oblivious 
oi  dermyn"s  precautionary  statement  that  he  wa-  pursuing  in- 
(piiries,  and  that  if  anytliing  ^l  interest  tuiaied  up,  Mr.  Lyo;; 
slKJuld  be  made  aeipiainted  with  it.  llenc(\  when  Cliristi:'.n 
addressed  him,  the  minister,  taken  hy  surprise'  anil  shaker^  by 
the  recollections  of  former  aaixielies.  sa.id.  helplessly  — 

''  If  it  is  Imsiuess,  sir,  you  would  perhaps  do  better  to  address 
yourself  to  Mr.  drvmyn." 

He  could  not  have  said  anythiu',:  tliat  was  a  more  valuable 
hint  to  (.'liristian.  He  inferred  thul  the  ndni.-jter  had  male  a 
coiilidant  of  .I'^riuvn.  and  it  was  ii'eiU'uI  lo  be  wary. 

"()ii  the  contrary,  sir."  he  a!;^v  Ted.  '-it  may  be  of  the  r.t- 
most  iiuportance  to  you  Lhat  wiiiU  parches  Ijeuveeu  us  .^hou.ij 
not  be  known  to  Mr.  Jeianyn.' 

VI'I.      ill.  ' 


258  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL. 

Mr.  Lyon  was  pei'])lexed,  and  felt  at  once  that  he  was  no 
more  in  clear  daylight  concerning  Jermyn  than  concerning 
Christian.  He  dared  not  neglect  the  possible  duty  of  hearing 
what  this  man  had  to  say,  and  he  invited  him  to  proceed  to 
jMalthouse  Yard,  where  they  could  converse  in  ])rivate. 

Once  in  ^Ir.  Lyon's  study,  Christian  opened  the  dialogue  by 
saying  that  since  he  was  in  this  room  before  it  had  occurred 
to  him  that  the  ;inxi'.'ty  he  had  observiMl  in  Mr.  Lyon  might 
bo  owing  to  some  acquaintance  with  Maurice  Christian  Bycliffe 
—  a  fellow-prisoner  in  1/ ranee,  whom  he,  Christian,  had  assisted 
in  getting  freed  from  liis  imprisonment,  and  who,  in  fact,  had 
Ijeen  the  owner  of  the  trifles  which  Mr.  Lyon  had  recently  had 
in  his  ])ossession.  a-ud  had  restored.  Christian  hastened  to  say 
that  he  knew  n(jtliing  of  Jiycliffe's  history  since  they  had 
])arted  in  France,  but  that  he  knew  of  his  marriage  with 
Annette  Ledru,  and  had  been  acquainted  with  Annette  herself. 
He  wonld  be  very  glad  to  know  wliat  became  of  i>yclitfe,  if  he 
could,  for  he  liked  him  uncommonly. 

Here  Chiistian  p;iused ;  but  Mr.  Lyon  only  sat  changing 
color  and  trembling.  This  man's  bearing  and  tone  of  mind 
were  made  repulsive  to  him  by  being  brought  in  contact  with 
keenly  felt  memories,  and  he  could  not  readily  summon  the 
courage  to  give  answers  or  ask  questions. 

"May  I  ask  il  you  knew  my  friend  JBycliffe  ?"  said  Chris- 
tian, trying  a  more  dii'ect  method. 

■'Xo,  sir  ;   T  never  saw  him." 

"  All  !  well  -  \ou  have  seen  a  very  striking  likeness  of  him. 
It's  wonderful — unaccountable;  but  when  1  saw  ]\liss  Lyon 
at  the  I'ree  Selionl  tiu^  othcj'  day,  I  could  have  sworn  she  was 
I>yc]ilTe\s  dauebi cr." 

"Sii'!"  said  Air.  T^yon.  in  his  deepest  tone.  Italf  vising,  and 
liolilin^r  by  liie  aian,-;  c/i'  ids  cdiair,  "  iJiesii  subjects  tomdi  me 
witli  too  sharp  a  ])()irn,  [\>v  you  1o])e  je.stiliedin  tlirusting  lliem 
on  me  out  of  lu'i-e  i^vil  v.  Is  thei-e  any  good  you  seek  or  any 
injury  you  fear  in  vdation  to  tlieni  '.'  "' 

"  l^recisely,  sir.  We  sli;dl  come  now  to  an  understanding. 
Suppose  T  ]Kdiev(Ml  tliat  tlie  young  l;ii]y  w'lio  goc^s  by  the  name 
of  Miss  Tjyon  was  the  daugbti-r  of  I'.ytdiffe  ?" 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAI.U  259 

Mr.  Lyon  moved  his  lips  silently. 

"  And  suppose  I  luid  reason  to  suspect  that  there  would  be 
some  grt'at  advantage  for  her  if  the  law  knew  who  was  her 
father  ?  " 

"  Sir  ! "'  said  ^[r.  Lyon,  shaken  out  of  all  reticence,  "I  would 
not  conceal  it.  She  believes  herself  to  be  my  daugliter.  But 
J  will  bt'ar  all  things  rather  than  deprive  lier  of  a  right. 
.\(  vcilhclcss  [  appeal  to  the  pity  of  any  fclloAV-man,  not  to 
thrust  hiniseir  between  her  and  me,  but  to  let  me  disclose  the 
truth  to  lier  mysell'.'' 

"All  in  good  time,''  said  Christian.  "We  must  do  nothing 
rash.     Tlien  IMiss  Lyon  is  Annette's  (ddld  ?  " 

The  ministi'r  shivered  as  if  the  edge  of  a  knife  had  been 
drawn  across  liis  hand.  lUit  the  tone;  of  this  (juestion,  by  the 
very  fact  that  it  intcnsiiied  his  antipathy  to  Christian,  enabled 
him  to  collect  himself  for  what  nuist  be  simply  the  endurance 
of  a  paini'ul  operation.  After  a  monu^nt  or  two  he  said  more 
coolly,  •■  It  is  true,  sir.  TI(M'  mother  became  my  wife.  I'roceed 
with  any  statement  which  may  concern  my  duty." 

••  I  have  no  more  t(i  s;iy  than  this  :  If  tluu't^  "s  ri  prize  that 
the  Inw  might  hand  over  to  l^ycliflVs  daugliter.  I  anr  much 
mistaken  if  there  isn't  a  lawyer  who'll  take  ]>reeioi;s  good 
care  to  keejt  the  law  hoodwinked.  And  that  lawyer  is  .Mat 
J(>rmyn.  AVliy.  my  good  sir.  if  you've  been  taking  Jermyu 
into  your  conlidence.  you 've  been  setting  the  fox  to  keep  oif 
tlie  weasel.  It  strikes  im'  that  when  you  wi're  made  a  little 
anxious  about  those  articles  of  poor  r.yeliffe's.  a du  i)ut  Jermyn 
on  making  impuries  of  me.     Eh  '.'   1  think  I  am  right  V' "^ 

"  I  do  not  deny  it.'' 

"Ah! — it  was  very  well  yon  did.  for  by  that  means  I 'vo 
found  out  that  Ik^  *s  got,  iiold  ol'  son!t>  secrets  a' 'out  ISyelitTc 
Mhich  lu!  nii'ans  to  sfille.  "Xov,-.  ;-ir.  if  you  di^sire  any  justice 
for  your  daughter  —  steT).d:!ee_;"hl  r,  I  should  say — doiri  so 
much  as  wink  to  yoursidf  before  rlerniyn;  and  if  you  "\e  got 
anv  papei'S  or  things  of  that  S'U'i  that  may  come  in  evidence. 
as  tliese  eoTd'ounded  rascals  tlie  lawyers  eall  it,  (duteh  them 
tiglit.  ['or  if  they  '^rt  into  deianyn's  hands  they  may  soon  liy 
up  the  (ddmney.      1  hive  T  said  enough  ';'  " 


2G0  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"I  had  not  purjjobed  any  further  communication  with  Mr. 
Jermyn,  sir  ;  indeed,  I  have  notliing  further  to  communicate. 
Except  that  one  fact  concerning  my  daugliter"s  birtli,  which  I 
have  erred  in  concealing  from  her,  1  neither  seek  disclosures 
nor  do  I  tremble  before  them." 

"  Tlieu  I  have  your  word  that  you  will  be  silent  about  this 
conversation  between  us  ?  It  is  for  your  daughter's  interest, 
mind.'"' 

"Sir,  I  shall  be  silent,"'  said  INIr.  Lyon,  with  cold  gravity. 
''  Unless,"  he  added,  with  an  acumen  as  to  })0ssibilities  rather 
disturbing  to  Christian's  confident  contempt  for  the  old  man 
—  "unless  I  were  called  upon  by  some  tribunal  to  declare  the 
whole  truth  in  this  relation  ;  in  which  case  J  should  submit 
myself  to  that  authority  of  investigation  which  is  a  requisite 
of  social  ordfu-."' 

Christian  d<'parted,  feeling  satisfied  that  he  had  got  the  ut- 
most to  be  obtained  at  present  out  of  the  Dissenting  preacher, 
whom  he  Iiad  not  dared  to  question  more  closely.  He  must 
look  out  for  chance  liglits,  and  perhaps,  too,  he  might  catch  a 
stray  hint  by  stirring  the  sediment  of  ]Mr.  Crowder's  memory. 
I'.ut  he  mtist  not  vt;nture  on  inquiries  that  might  be  noticed. 
He  was  in  awe  of  .lermyn. 

AVlifU  .Mr.  Lyon  v/as  alone  he  paced  up  and  down  among 
liis  bftoks,  and  tliouglit  aloud,  in  order  to  relieve  himself  after 
tlie  constraint  of  this  interview.  "  I  will  not  wait  for  the 
ui'geiicy  ol  necessity,"  he  said,  more  than  once.  "1  will  tell 
till-  child  Avithout  compidsion.  And  then  1  shrdl  fear  nothing. 
Au'J  an  unwonted  s])irit  of  tenderness  has  hlled  her  of  late, 
She  will  forgive  me." 


FEJ.1X   ilOLT,    THE   liADlCAL.  261 


CHAinT.R   XXVI. 

Considoratiiiii  like  an  arnrc]  came 

And  \vlii]i]if>il  the  (>fiV'ii(li)ii4'  Adam  out  of  her  ; 

Leaviiii;'  lior  hndy  as  a  paradise 

To  euveloj)  and  contain  celestial  sjiirits. 

SiiAKKsri.ARi: :  Ilrnnj  V. 

Tn?:  next  morning,  af't<'r  niucli  prayer  for  the  needful 
strength  and  wisdom,  iMr.  Lyon  came  down-stairs  witli  tlie 
resolution  tliat  another  day  sltoidd  not  pass  without  the  fulfil 
ment  of  the  task  he  liad  laid  on  himself;  but  what  hour  he 
should  choose  for  his  solemn  disclosure  to  Esther,  must  depend 
on  their  mutual  oeciq)ations.  Terhaps  he  must  defer  it  till 
thfv  sat  up  alone  togi'ther.  a:fter  Lyddy  was  gone  to  bed.  But 
;it  breakfast  J'^sther  sai'l  — 

'•'I'o-day  is  a  holiday,  father.  iNFy  impils  are  all  going  to 
l)uffi<'ld  to  sec  the  VvMld  beasts.  ^A'hn.t  have  3'ou  got  to  do 
to-day?  Come,  yow  are  eating  no  l)reakfast.  Oh.  Lyddy, 
Lyddy.  the  eggs  are  hard  again.  T  wish  you  would  not  read 
Alleyne's  •'Alarm'  before  breakfast;  it  makes  you  cry  and 
forgf't  the   egLTS."' 

"'I'lu'v  (irr  hard,  niid  th.at 's  the  truth:  but  there's  hearts  as 
are  hai'dcr.  Miss  Esther."  said  T>}-(ldy. 

'•  I  thiid;  not."'  said  ICsther.  ■•  This  is  h^atliery  enough  for 
till'  heai't  of  th*'  most  obdurate  ,K'w.  I'ray  give  it  little 
Zachary   for   a   footlinll."' 

'•Deal',  (lear,  don't  you  be  so  light,  miss.  We  may  all  be 
dead  before  night."' 

•'■  ^'ou  s])eak  out  of  season,  my  good  Lyddy,"  said  Mr.  Lyon, 
Avearily;   '•  dejiart  into  the  kitehen."" 

••What  have  you  g.-t  to  ilo  to-day,  father?"  persisted 
Esthei'.      "'T   have    a    holiday." 

Mi.  Lyon  fell  a^;  il'  this  wei'e  a  tVesh  sumiiioiis  not  to  delay. 
"  I  have  something  uf  i,u'eat  moment  to  do,  mv  dear:   a'ld  since 


i!62  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   liADlCAL. 

you  are  not  otherwise  demanded,  I  will  ask  you  to  come  and 

sit  "with  luo  up-stairs." 

Esther  wondered  what  there  could  be  on  her  father's  mind 
more  pressing  than  his  morning  studies. 

She  soon  knew.  Motionless,  but  mentally  stirred  as  she 
had  never  been  before,  Esther  listened  to  her  mother's  story, 
and  to  the  outpouring  of  her  step-father's  long-pent-up  ex- 
perience. The  rays  of  the  morning  sun  which  fell  athwart 
the  books,  tlie  sense  of  the  beginning  day.  had  deepened  the 
solemnity  more  than  night  would  have  done.  All  knowledge 
wliicli  alters  our  lives  peiieti'ates  us  more  wlien  it  conu:>s  in  the 
early  morning  :  the  day  that  has  to  be  travelled  with  something 
new  and  perhaps  forever  sad  in  its  light,  is  an  iiaage  of  the  life 
that  S})reads  beyond.     But  at  night  the  time  of  rest  is  near. 

.Mr.  Lyon  regarded  his  narrative  as  a  confession  —  as  a 
revelation  to  this  beloved  child  of  his  own  miserable  weak- 
ness and  error.  But  to  her  it  seemed  a  revelation  of  another 
sort :  her  mind  seemed  suddeidy  enlarged  by  a  vision  of  3)as- 
sion  and  struggl(\.  of  delight  and  renunciation,  in  tlie  lot  of 
beings  who  had  hitherto  been  a  dull  enigiua  to  her.  And  in 
the  act  of  unfolding  to  her  that  he  was  not  her  real  father,  but 
had  only  striven  to  cherish  her  as  a  father,  had  only  longed  to 
be  loved  as  a  father,  the  odd,  wayworn,  unworldly  man  became 
the  object  of  a  new  sym])athy  in  which  Esther  felt  lun-scdf 
fxalted.  l'ei-ha|)S  this  kncnvh'dge  wcnild  have,  been  less  }>ower- 
lul  within  her.  but  I'or  the  mentaJ  prcjiaration  that  had  come 
during  Vnc  last  two  months  I'mm  licr  acrpiainlance  with  f'clix 
Holt,  which  had  taught  hci'  [o  doubt  the  iiilailibilily  of  her 
own  standard,  and  raised  a  presentiment  nf  nuiral  depths  {hat 
Avere  hiddi-n  fi'i  im  her. 

I'^sther  had  taki-u  her  ]ilace  oiijjosite  to  her  father,  and  had 
not  ]uoved  cN'en  ]\vr  (daspcd  hands  while  he  was  speaking. 
lUit  after  the  long  ou{])Oui-ing  in  ^\hi^dL  he  seemed  to  lose  the 
sense  of  evei-ythiiiL,^  but  the  nu'morirs  he  was  giving  utterance 
to,  h(>  ])atis('d  a  little  v.  liiir  and  then  ^aid  timidly  — ■ 

"This  is  a  late  I'ct  rie\'al  of  a  long  crroi'.  KstluM".  T  make 
not  excuse's  for  myself,  fiii-  we  ought  t,o  siri\-i'  that  our  alfec- 
tiuua  be  rooted  in  the  truth.      JSevertheless  you  —  " 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  263 

Esther  luul  risen,  and  had  glided  on  to  the  wooden  stool  on 
A,  level  with  her  father's  chair,  where  he  was  accustomed  to 
lay  books.  I5he  wanted  to  speak,  but  the  iloodgates  could  not 
be  opened  for  words  alone.  She  threw  her  arms  round  the 
old  man's  neck  and  sobbed  out  with  a  passionate  cry,  "Father, 
father!  forgive  me  if  I  have  not  loved  }ou  enough.  I  will  — 
I  will!'' 

The  old  man's  little  deli(;atc  frame  was  shaken  by  a  surprise 
and  joy  that  were  almost  painl'ul  in  their  intensity.  He  had 
lu'on  going  to  ask  forgiveness  of  her  who  asked  it  for  herself. 
In  that  monumt  of  supreme  complex  emotion  one  ray  of  the 
minister's  joy  was  the  thought,  '•'  Surely  the  work  of  grace 
is  begun  in  her  —  surely  here  is  a  heart  that  the  Lord  hath 
touched." 

They  sat  so,  enclasped  in  silence,  Avhile  Esther  relieved  her 
full  heart.  When  she  raised  her  head,  she  sat  quite  still  for 
a  minute  or  two  looking  hxedly  before  her,  and  keeping  one 
little  hand  in  the  minister's.  Presently  she  looked  at  him 
and  suitl  — 

<'  Then  you  lived  like  a  working  man,  father  ;  you  were  very, 
very  ])Oor.  Yet  my  motiu'r  iiad  been  used  to  luxury.  She 
was  well  born —  she  was  a  lad}."' 

"It  is  true,  my  tlear ;  it  was  a  poor  life  that  I  could  give 
her." 

Air.  Lyon  answered  in  utter  dimness  as  to  the  course  Es- 
tlier's  mind  was  taking.  He  had  antiei]);ited  before  his  dis- 
closure, from  his  long-standing  discernment  of  tendencies  in 
hei'  which  were  often  the  cause  ol'  silent  grief  to  him.  that  tlie 
discovery  liktdy  to  Imvo  tlie  l^ecnest,  interest  for  her  would  be 
th;it  her  parents  liad  a  higlicr  i';;iik  tlian  lliatol'the  ])oor  Dissent- 
ing preaclier  ;  but  slie  had  slu;\vn  1 1mt  t«lliei-  and  better  sensibil- 
ities wei'c  ]ireilominant.  lb-  rcbnlvcd  himself  now  i'or  a  hasty 
anil  sliallow  juilgmnit  concerning  the  (jhild's  inner  life,  antl 
waited  i'oi'  new  clearnt^ss. 

■•  iUit  that  must  l)e  tlie  best  lifi'.  father.'*  said  Kstlier,  <ud- 
den.^,  rising,  witli  a  flush  across  laT  paleness,  and  stauibn'j;  with 
h(M' In'ail  thrown  a  little  backv,:,;'  i.  as  if  some  illuniinat  ion  had 
Lfiven  her  a  new  decision.      ••  iiia;.  must  be  the  best  life." 


264  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

"  What  life,  iny  dear  child  ?  " 

"  Why,  tluit  where  one  bears  and  does  everything  because  ot 
some  great  and  strong  feeling  —  so  that  this  and  that  in  one's 
circumstances  don't  signify.'' 

"  Yea,  verily  ;  but  tlie  feeling  that  should  be  thus  supreme 
is  devotedness  to  the  Divine  Will." 

Esther  did  not  speak ;  her  father's  words  did  not  fit  on  to 
the  impressions  wrought  in  her  by  what  he  had  told  her.  She 
sat  down  again,  and  said,  more  quietly  — 

"  Mamma  did  not  speak  nuich  of  my  —  first  father  ?  " 

"Not  nuich,  dear.  She  said  he  was  beautiful  to  the  eye, 
and  good  and  generous ;  and  that  his  family  \vas  of  those  who 
liave  been  long  privileged  among  their  fellows.  But  now  I 
will  deliver  to  you  the  letters,  Avhieli,  together  with  a  ring 
and  locket,  are  the  only  visible  memorials  she  retained  of 
him." 

Mr.  Lyon  reached  and  delivered  to  Esther  the  box  contain- 
ing the  relics.  '•'  Take  them,  and  examine  them  in  privacy, 
my  dear.  And  that  I  may  no  more  err  by  concealment,  I 
will  tell  you  some  late  occurrences  that  bear  on  these  me- 
morials, though  to  my  present  apprehension  doubtfully  and 
confusedly." 

He  then  narrated  to  Esther  all  that  had  passed  between 
liimself  and  Christian.  The  })o.ssibility  —  to  which  ^Nlr.  Lyon's 
ahirms  had  ])ointcd  —  th;it  her  rcaf  father  might  still  bo  living, 
w;!s  a  nt'W  shock.  8he  could  not  speak  about  it  to  her  present 
lather,  but  it  was  registered  in  silence  as  a  ])ainl'ul  addition  to 
the  uncertainties  which  she  suddenly  saw  hanging  over  her 
life. 

"I  have  little  conhdi'iice  in  this  man's  allegations,"  ^Tr. 
Lyon  endeil.  '•  \  eojifess  liis  presence  and  speech  are  to  nu;  as 
tlie  jari'ing  of  metal.  lie  l)ears  the  stamp  of  one  wlio  has 
never  eoiieeivcd  .•ni;_;ht  ol'  iiiorc!  sanctity  tliaii  the  lust:  of  th(i 
ey(;  and  the  pride  df  lii'e.  lie  hints  at  sonic  pfissihlc  inhei-i- 
taiice  f(j;' yon,  and  dciioiiiiccs  mysteia;  undy  tli"  devices  ot  .Mr. 
dcrmyn.  All  lliis  jnay  or  may  not  havi-  ;i  tiaie  foundation. 
I'.ut  it  is  not  my  jiari,  to  move  m  this  matter  save  on  a 
clearer  showing." 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  265 

"Certainly  not,  lather,"  said  Esther,  eagerly.  A  little  while 
ago,  these  problematic  prospects  might  have  set  lier  dreaming 
pleasantly  •,  but  now,  for  some  reasons  that  she  could  not  have 
put  distinctly  into  words,  they  aii'ected  her  with  dread. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

To  hear  with  eyes  is  part  of  love's  rare  wit. 

Shakespeare  ;  Sonnets. 

Custom  calls  me  to't: 
What  rnstom  wills,  in  all  things  should  wo  do't, 
The  liust  on  antiuue  time  wcjuld  lie  unswcpt, 
Anil  inouniaintins  error  be  ton  Jiiixhlv  heaped 
For  trutli  to  over-]>cer.  — Conuianus. 

In  the  afternoon  ^Ir.  Lyon  went  out  to  see  the  sick  amongsL 
his  flock,  and  Esther,  who  had  hci'n  passing  the  morning  in 
dwelling  on  the  memories  and  the  few  remaining  relics  of  her 
parents,  was  kjft  alone  in  the  parlor  amidst  the  lingering  odors 
of  the  early  dinner,  not  easily  got  rid  of  in  that  small  house. 
]\ich  ])eople,  who  know  nothing  of  these  vulgar  details,  can 
hardly  imagine  their  signifieance  in  the  history  of  multitudes 
of  liiuiian  livt>s  in  which  the  sensibilities  are  nev(U'  adjusted  to 
the  external  conditions.  ]']stlier  always  felt  so  much  discom- 
fort i'roin  those  odors  that  she  usually  seized  any  jiossibility  of 
csea]iing  from  them,  and  to-day  they  op^iressed  her  tln'  more 
because  she  was  weaiy  with  loni;-eont  inued  a":itatioii.  ^^dly 
did  she  not  ])ut  on  h(>r  bonnet  as  usual  and  get  out  into  tl:e 
0])en  air'.'  It  was  one  of  tliose  ])](\isaj;i  ]S'ovendier  ai'lernoons 
—  pleasant  in  the  wide  country — -when  the  sunshine  is  on  t,lie 
(diiiging  bi'own  leaves  oi' the  y.iuie_f  oaks,  and  the  hist  yellow 
leaves  of  tlu^  t'hus  fluttei'  doA-;i  in  the  fresh  but  not;  eagei' 
brei'/e.  lUit  Esllier  sai  sliii  on  the  sofa  —  pale  and  '.villi  i'"d- 
denedi   e_\  eiids,  her   cui'ls   all    pa.  iied   back   car' les.-^ly,  and   he; 


2G6  FELIX  HOLT,  THE  RADICAL. 

elbow  resting  on  the  ridgy  black  horsehair,  which  usually 
almost  set  lier  teeth  on  edge  if  she  pressed  it  even  through  her 
sleeve — while  her  eyes  rested  blankly  ou  the  dull  street. 
Lyddy  had  said,  -.Miss,  you  look  sadly;  if  you  can't  take  a 
walk,  go  and  lie  down."'  She  had  never  suen  the  curls  in  such  dis- 
ordtn',  and  she  refli'(-ted  that  there  had  be^'U  a  death  from  typhus 
recently.     But  tin;  oljstinate  Miss  only  sho(jk  lier  head. 

Esth(;r  was  Avaiting  for  the  sake  of  —  not  a  probability,  but 
—  a  m(;re  |iossibility,  vvdiich  made  the  brotliy  odors  endurable. 
Apparently,  in  less  than  half  an  hour,  the  }jos.si]jility  came  to 
pass,  for  she  changed  her  attitude,  almost  started  from  her 
Seat;  sat  dovv'n  again,  and  listened  eagerly.  If  Lydd}-  should 
send  him  away,  could  she  herself  rush  out  and  call  him  buck? 
Why  not  ?  Such  things  were  })ermissible  where  it  was  under- 
stood, from  the  necessity  of  the  case,  that  tiiere  v;as  only 
friendship.  ]>ut  Lyddy  opened  the  door  and  said,  '-irere-s 
!Mr.  H(;lt,  miss,  wiints  to  knov,-  if  you'll  give  him  leave  to 
come  in.     I  told  him  you  was  sadly." 

'•  Oh  yes,  Lyddy,  beg  him  to  come  in." 

"1  shcjuld  not  have  persevered,"  said  I'elix,  as  they  shook 
hands,  •'•' only  I  know  Lyddy's  dismal  way.  I'.ut  you  do  hjok 
ill,"  he  went  on,  as  he;  seated  himself  at  the  other  end  of  the 
sofa.  '■  Or  rather  —  for  that  "s  a  false  way  of  putting  it  — }"<)U 
look  us  if  you  hatl  lif-eii  very  mmdi  distre.-^sed.  J)o  you  mind 
ab(;iit  ]iiy  taking  iiutiee  of  it  '/  " 

lb;  Spoke'  \'eiy  kimlly,  and  looked  at  her  more  persistc^ntly 
than  he  had  ever  done  belore,  when  her  hair  was  jn-rlect. 

'■  Y'fia,  are  ijniti'  light.  I  am  not  at  all  ill.  l'>iit  L  have  l)een 
V(-ry  nnieli  agitat(;d  this  moj'ning.  My  father  lias  been  ttdling 
me  thiii'_;s  I  iii'ver  heai'd  bcd'ore  ahout  my  niotliei',  and  giving  me 
things  that  belonged  ti;  her.  Slie  died  wlien  I  was  a  very 
little  ci-eaturf.'' 

'•  Thi'ii  it  is  no  new  pain  oi'  ti'ouble  for  vou  and  ]\Ir.  Lyon  ? 
I  couhi  iieit  lii'lp  l)«Mie,>-  anxious  to  know  tljat." 

Lstlicr  (jassed  ]\i-r  hand  over  her  jjrow  befcire  slie  answered.. 
•■  I  hardl}  kniAv  whether  it  is  ]iain.  (>v  -omctliing  better  than 
plea-^ui'e-.  It  ha.-,  made  me  see  things  1  was  ijlind  to  before  — 
depth.'.  '.:..  my  father's  nature." 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  267 

As  she  said  this,  she  looked  at  Felix,  and  their  eyes  met 
very  gravely. 

"  It  IS  such  a  beautiful  day,"  h»^  said,  '•  it  would  do  you 
good  to  go  into  the  air.  Let  me  take  you  along  the  river 
towards  little  Treb}",  will  you  ?  "' 

'•'  I  will  put  my  bonnet  on,"  said  Esther,  unhesitatingly, 
though  they  had  never  walked  out  together  before. 

It  is  true  that  to  get  into  the  fields  they  had  to  pass  through 
the  street;  and  when  Esther  saw  some  acquaintances,  she  re- 
flected that  her  walking  alone  with  Felix  might  be  a  subject 
of  remark  —  all  the  more  because  of  his  cap,  patched  boots,  no 
cravat,  and  thick  stick.  Esther  was  a  little  amazed  herself  at 
what  she  had  cume  to.  So  our  lives  glide  on  :  the  river  ends 
we  don't  know  where,  and  the  sea  begins,  and  then  there  is  no 
more  jumping  ashore. 

Wlu^n  they  were  m  the  streets  Esther  hardly  spoke.  Felix. 
ta]k(.'(l  with  his  usual  readiness,  as  easily  as  if  he  were  not 
doing  it  solely  to  divert  her  thoughts,  first  about  Jol)  Tudge's 
delicate  chest,  and  the  proljability  tliat  the  little  white-faced 
monkey  would  nrit  live  long;  and  then  about  a  miserable  be- 
giiniiug  of  a  night-school,  v,lii(.'li  was  all  lie  could  get  together 
at  Sproxton  ;  ;nid  the  dismalness  of  that  hamlet,  which  was  a 
sort  of  lip  to  the  c()al|nt  on  one  side  and.  the  -'public"  on  the 
other — -and  yet  a.  paradi.-<e  compar(>d  willi  the  wyuds  of  Glas- 
gow, where  there  was  little  more  than  a  chink  of  daylight  to 
show  the  hatred  in  women's  faces. 

lUit  soon  they  got  into  the  lii'Id.-;.  whei'c  there  was  a.  right  of 
way  towards  Little  Treby.  n(.)W  following  the  course  of  the 
river,  now  crossing  towards  a  hnu-.  and  now  turning  into  a 
cart-track  through  a  |ilantatioii. 

'•Here  wt>  art^  I  "  said  Felix,  wlien  th(^y  liad  crossed  the 
wo(.)(len  bi'idge.  and  were  trendin-  an  the  shmting  shadows 
made  by  the  elm-tvuid<.s.  •'•  f  thiids  ilii-  is  deliciou.s.  I  nevei' 
ieel  less  unha])]iy  than  in  these  late  autumn  atteru(jons  when 
they  are  sunn}"." 

''Less  unh.aj^py  I  There  now  '."  said  Esther,  smiliim'  at  him 
with  soiuc  of  her  habitual  sauciUi'-s.  ■■  [  have  caught  you  in  stdf- 
tjontiadicliuu.     I  have  heard   \i>:i  auite  furious  agam.^t  ])uling, 


268  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

melancholy  people.  If  I  had  said  what  you  have  just  said, 
you  Avould  have  given  ine  a  long  lecture,  and  told  lue  to  go 
home  and  interest  myself  in  the  reason  of  the  rule  of  three." 

"Very  likely,"  said  Felix,  beating  the  weeds,  according  to 
the  foi'oh;  of  our  connnon  hunuuiity  when  it  has  a  stick  in  its 
hand.  "  J!ut  I  don"t  think  myself  a  fine  felloAv  because  I  'm 
m.eh.iucholy.  I  don't  measure  my  force  by  the  negations  in  me, 
und  think  my  soul  must  be  a  mighty  one  because  it  is  more 
given  to  idle  suffering  than  to  beneficent  activity.  That's  what 
your  favorite  gentlemen  do,  of  the  Byronioljilious  style." 

"  L  don't  admit  that  those  are  my  favorite  gentlemen." 

"  I  've  heard  you  defend  tlunn —  gentlemen  like  your  Kenes, 
who  have  no  particular  talent  for  the  finite,  but  a  general 
sense  that  the  infinite  is  the  right  thing  for  tliem.  They 
might  as  w<'ll  boast  of  nausea  as  a  proof  of  a  sti'ong  inside." 

"  Stop,  stop !  You  run  on  in  that  way  to  get  out  of  my 
reach.    1  convicted  you  of  confessing  that  you  ar(?  melancholy." 

"Yes,"  said  Fcdix,  thrusting  his  left  hand  into  his  pocket, 
with  a  shrug  ;  "  as  I  could  confess  to  a  great  nuany  other  things 
I  'm  not  ]iroiid  of.  The  fact  is,  there  are  not  many  easy  lots  to 
l)e  drawn  in  th(;  world  at  present ;  and  such  as  they  are  I  am  not 
envious  of  tliem.  I  don't  say  life  is  not  worth  having :  it  is 
worth  having  to  a  man  who  has  some  Sjiarks  of  sense  and  feel- 
ing and  bi-avcj'v  in  him.  And  the  finest  fellow  of  all  would  be 
llie  (jue  who  eould  be  glod  to  have  lived  because  the  world  was 
cliielly  n!isera])le.  and  liis  life  had  conn;  to  help  some  one  who 
necdi'd  il .  He  would  bf!  the  man  who  had  the  nxjst  powers  and 
tlie  lewest  se-Hisli  w.'uits.  ISut  T  'm  not  u])  to  the  hn'cl  of  whal 
1  see  to  Ije  best.      I  "m  often  a  hungry  disr'ontented  fellow." 

"  A\'liy  ]i;:\'e  you  made  your  life  so  harrl  then  ?  ■'  said  Esthei'. 
nitlier  iri'.ditiMh'd.  as  sin-  asked  the  f|uestion.  "It  seems  to  me 
you  have  'I'ieil  1.;'  j'ni']  just  the  most  ditiieull  task." 

"Not  al  all.""  s;iid  l'"e]ix.  with  eurt  decision.  "' ^ly  course 
was  a  \'iTy  Kimiilc  one.  It  was  ])ointed  out  to  me  by  condi- 
tions thaji  I  saw  a-  el.-irly  as  I  see  the  Ij.'H's  of  tliis  stile.  It's 
n  ilillieult  stih'  loo.""  seid.'d  l''rlix.  sti'idiiig  over,  "Shall  I 
litilp   3'ou.  or  will    yoii    !..•    left    to  yourself?" 

"I  can  do  without  help,  iha.iik  you." 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  269 

"Tt  was  all  simple  enough,"'  contiiiuetl  Felix,  as  tlujy  walked 
on.  ■•  ir  I  meant  to  put  a  stop  to  the  sale  of  those  drugs,  I 
must  keep  my  mother,  and  of  course  at  her  age  she  would  not 
leave  the  plaee  she  had  been  used  to.  And  1  had  made  u[)  my 
mind  against  what  they  call  genteel  businesses." 

'•  J-Jut  su])pose  every  one  did  as  you  do  ?  Please  to  forgive 
me  for  saying  so;  but  I  cannot  see  why  you  could  lu^t  have 
liv('d  as  honorably  with  some  employment  that  presupposes 
education  and  refinem(>nt." 

'•  IJecause  you  can't  see  my  history  or  my  nature,"  said 
Felix,  bluntly.  '•  I  have  to  determine  for  myself,  and  not  for 
other  men.  I  don't  blame  them,  or  think  1  am  better  than 
they;  their  circumstances  are  different.  I  would  never  choose 
to  withdraw  myself  from  the  labor  and  common  burthen  of  the 
world  ;  but  I  do  choose  to  withdraw  myself  from  the  push  and 
the  s('rand)le  for  money  and  i)Osilion.  Any  man  is  at  liberty 
to  call  me  a  i'ool,  and  say  that  miinkind  are  benefited  by  the 
push  and  the  scrtimble  in  the  long-run.  P>ut  I  care  for  the  peo- 
ple who  live  n(j\v  and  will  not  be  living  when  the  long-run 
comes.      As  it  is,  I  ])refer  going  shares  with  the  uiducky." 

Esther  did  not  sjteak.  and  tln're  was  silence  between,  them 
for  a  minute  or  Lwo,  till  they  passed  through  a  gate  into  a 
plantation  when'  tliei'c  was  no  large  timbei-,  but  only  thin- 
stemmed  trees  and  uiidervrooil,  so  tliat  the  sunlight  fell  on  the 
mossy  spares  uliicli  lay  o[>en  hein;  aiid  there. 

'•Set!  how  l)(/autiful  those  sfoojiiiig  l)ii'(di-st(uns  are  with  the 
light  on  them!"  said  Felix.  '-Here  is  an  old  felled  trunk 
tliey  have;  not  tliought  worth  cari'ying  awav.  Shall  we  sit 
down   a  littli-    while  '.'  " 

'•  Ves  ;  tlie  luossy  grouml  will:  the  d r\  l;-:ives  sjirink'led  o\'er 
it  is  deliglitful  to  one's  leet."  I'^stliei'  sat  d(.'Wii  and  took  off 
hei'  b(ainet.  tliat  the  light  bree/.e  nii-'lit  f,dl  oi!  her  heai]. 
Felix,  too,  threw  down  his  cap  and  ^tiek,  king  on  tin.'  gi'ound 
with  liis  barf:  a-ainst  tb.e  feked  Inndw 

'"1  Nvisli  1  fidt  more  ;is  von  do."  >li(^  said,  loohdng  at  the 
point  of  her  foot.  \\hi(di  was  playing  with  a  tnft  of  ino-,-:.  '•' I 
can't  help  c-arin--  very  much  wii  ■  ha[ipens  to  me.  And  you 
yeem  to  care  so  little  about  your.-ell." 


270  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"You  are  tlioroughly  mistaken,"  said  Felix.  "It  is  just 
because  I  'm  a  very  ambitious  fellov.',  with  very  hungry  pas- 
sions, wanting  a  great  deal  to  satisfy  me,  tL,.,t  I  have  chosen, 
to  give  up  wliat  people  call  worldly  good.  At  least  that  has 
been  one  determining  reason.  It  all  deijends  on  what  a  man 
gets  into  his  consciousness  —  what  life  thrusts  into  his  mind, 
so  that  it  becomes  present  to  him  as  remorse  is  present  to  the 
guilty,  or  a  mechanical  problem  to  an  inventive  genius.  There 
are  two  things  I  "ve  got  })resent  in  that  way  :  one  of  them  is 
llic  ](icture  of  what  I  should  hate  to  be.  1  "m  determined  never 
to  go  al)out  making  my  face  simpering  or  solemn,  and  telling 
}irofessional  lies  for  profit ;  cr  to  get  tangled  in  affairs  where 
I  must  wink  at  dishonesty  and  pc^'ket  the  }irocee'ds.  and  justify 
tliat  knavery  as  part  of  a  system  tiiat  I  can't  alter.  If  I  once 
went  into  tliat  sort  of  struggle  for  success,  I  should  want  to  win 
—  I  sh(Add  defend  tl;*^  wrung  tluit  I  had  once  identified  myself 
with.  I  should  become  everything  tliat  I  see  now  beforehand 
to  be  detestable.  And  what  "s  more,  I  shotild  do  this,  as  men 
are  doing  it  every  day,  for  a  riiliculously  small  prize  —  per- 
ha])S  f(jr  none  at  all  —  ]ierha]ts  foi'  tlie  sake  of  two  parlrirs,  a 
raiik  tdigible  for  tlie  eliuiT-lnvardenship,  a  discontented  wife, 
and  several  unliMpeful  cliihb'en.'" 

IC^tli'M'  it-It  a  terriijle'  [(ressui'"  on  her  heart — the  eertainty 
of  her  remoteness  from  Fe-lix  —  the,  sense  tliat  she  was  utterly 
trivial  to  liiiii. 

'■'Flic  otle'r  tiling  that's  got  into  my  mind  like  a  splinter." 
said  belix.  aftf.'r  a  ]):iuse.  '-is  the  life  of  the  misfrable  —  the 
spavning  lib- of  vice  nnd  hunger.  I'll  never  loe  one  of  the 
slei'lv  '}(>'■■<.  '1  hi;  old  (';;rnr)lir>  an'  riuht,  with  tht-ir  hi'jher 
rule  and  thi'ii'  lov.-.'r.  Soiuc  are  eaih''l  to  subject  themselves 
to  a  hai'd^r  oi,-i-l]. line,  and  renoiin<'f  things  \'obintai-ily  whieli 
are  lav/ in!  for  otln-rs.  It  is  tlu!  old  word  —  'necessity  is  laid 
XI]  1^)11  me."  "' 

''  It  seems  to  me  you  arc  stricter  than  my  fathc'r  is." 

'•  Xo.  I  fpiarr"!  with  no  dcli;4hl  that  is  not  base  or  cruel, 
lint  one  must  sfjiie -times  acconimodnte  on*-  "s  self  to  a  small 
share.  That  is  the  lot  of  the  nKijoiatw  I  would  wish  the 
minority  joy,  only  the}'  don't  want  my  wishes." 


FELIX    HOLT.    THE    RADICAL.  271 

Ap;ain  there  was  silence.  Estlier's  clieeks  were  hot  ill  spite 
of  tlie  l)reoze  that  sent  her  hair  iioating  backward.  She  felt 
an  inward  strain,  a  demand  on  her  to  see  things  in  a  light 
that  was  not  easy  or  soothing.  When  Felix  had  asked  her  to 
walk,  he  had  seemed  so  kind,  so  alivt'  to  what  might  be  her 
feelings,  that  she  had  thought  licrself  nearer  to  him  than  she 
had  ever  been  before  ;  but  since  they  had  come  out,  he  had 
ap})eared  to  Ibrget  all  that.  And  yet  she  was  conscious  tl>at 
tills  ini])atience  of  hei'S  was  very  |)etty.  ]:)attling  in  this  way 
with  her  own  little  iu;|)ulses,  and  looking  at  the  birch-stems 
o]>{iosite  till  her  gaze  Vv^as  too  wide  for  her  to  see  an3'thin.'j 
distinctly,  she  was  unaware  how  long  they  had  remained  with- 
out speaking.  .She  did  not  know  that  Felix  had  changed  libs' 
attitude  a  little,  and  was  r(v.tii;g  his  elb'ow  on  the  tree-trunk, 
while  he  sn[)i)orted  his  h'';id,  which  was  turned  towards  her. 
Suddenly  he  said,  in  a  lower  tone  than  w;is  habitual  to  him  — 

'•  ^'ou  ar»^  "^'('ly  beautiful."' 

She  started  and  looked  I'ound  at  him,  to  see  whether  his 
face  would  give  some  help  to  the  interjiretation  oi'  this  nove? 
Sjieech.  lie  was  looking  uj)  at  her  quite  calmly,  very  mncli  as 
a  reverential  !'iot<'stant  might  look  at  a  ]iictnre  of  the  Virgin, 
with  a-  devoutness  suggested  In'  the  ty])e  rather  than  by  the 
image.  Estln-r's  vanity  was  not  in  th"  least  ^'ratified :  she  felt 
that,  somehow  or  other.  Felix  was  •_';oiu'^'-  to  repro;;ch  her. 

'•  T  Vv'omler,""  he  went  on,  still  looking  at  her,  ■•'wdiether  the 
subtle  mea--'!!-ing  of  t'oi'ces  will  evn-  i-ome  to  measuring  the 
force  there  Avould  be  in  one  be;;utiful  woman  whose  mind  wa.^ 
as  noble  as  liei-  I'a.ce  was  be;iutii'ul  —  wlio  le.ade  a  man's  pas- 
sion for  her  rush  in  one  cuia'ent  wit,Ii  all  tlie  gr(>at  aims  of  lii."^ 
lib'." 

Esther's  eyes  got  hot  and  smai'ting.  It  was  no  use  tr^'ing 
to  be  dignilied.  She  had  iunuMl  ;iway  her  he.ad.  aud  now  said, 
rathei-  hiiteidy.  '■  It  is  ditli(Milt  Inr  a  woman  ever  to  trv  io  lie 
anythiuL:  u-(ioil  when  she  is  imt  lielieviMl  in  — when  it  is  always 
sn]i])osed  tliat  slie  mu.st  be  conteiii pvilile." 

'•No.  dear  Fsther"  —  it  v.'a,-  the  first  time  Felix  had  beeri 
])rompted  to  call  lier  by  her  ('hi'i^ti;in  luuue.  and  :e<  he  did  so 
he  laid  his  large  hand  on   her  two  little  hands,   'Adiieli  were 


272  FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL. 

clasped  on  her  knees.     ''You  don't  believe  that  I  think  you 
conteni})tibIe.     AVlien  I  first  saw  you  —  '' 

"  I  kno^v.  I  know,"'  said  Esther,  interrupting  him  impetu- 
ously, but  still  looking-  away.  ''You  mean  you  did  think  me 
contemptible  then.  l>ut  it  was  very  narrow  of  you  to  judge 
me  in  that  way,  when  my  life  had  been  so  different  from 
yours.  I  have  great  faults.  I  know  I  am  selfish,  and  think 
too  much  of  my  own  small  tastes  and  too  little  of  what  affects 
otliei's.  I)ut  I  am  not  stupid.  I  am  not  unfeeling.  I  can  see 
what  is  better.'"' 

"  But  I  have  not  done  you  injustice  since  I  knew  more  of 
you."'"  said  Fclix^  gently. 

"Yes,  you  have/'  said  Esther,  turning  and  smiling  et  him 
through  Ihu-  tears.  •■  You  talk  to  me  like  an  angry  pedagogue. 
Were  ijou  always  wise  ?  Remember  the  time  when  you  were 
foolisli  or  naught}'." 

'•■  That  is  not  far  off,"  said  Felix,  curtly,  taking  away  his 
hand,  and  clasping  it  with  the  other  at  the  back  of  his  head. 
The  talk,  which  seemed  to  be  introducing  a  mutual  under- 
standing, such  as  had  not  existed  before,  seemed  to  have 
underg(_)ne  some  check. 

'•  Sliall  we  get  up  and  walk  back  now  ?  "  said  Esther,  after 
a  few  moments. 

'•X<),""said  I'^i'lix,  entreatingly.  " Don't  move  yet.  I  dare 
say  we  sliall  never  walk  together  or  sit  here  again." 

"Why  not?"' 

"T>ee;uise  1  am  a  man  who  am  warned  by  visions.  Those 
oM  st('>rie.s  oi'  visions  and  dreams  guiding  men  have  their 
trutli  :  we  are  saved  by  making  tlie  future  present  to  our- 
selve>."' 

'■•  I  wish  I  fould  get  visions,  then.""  said  Esther,  smiling  at 
liini.  with  ;i'i  liTort  of  jihivfulness,  in  resistance  to  something 
vaguely  niriuriiful  witliiii  her. 

'•  Th;it  is  what  1  want,"'  said  Felix,  looking  at  her  very 
earnestly.  ••'  Don't  turn  your  head.  Do  look  at  me,  and  then 
[  sliall  know  if  I  may  go  on  speaking.  T  do  believe  in  yon  ; 
i  at  1  want  yon  to  \v.\\-r  sucli  ;i  '.isiiMi  of  the  future  that  you 
amy  never  lose  your  l)est  self.     fSome  charm  or  other  may  be 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   KADICAL.  273 

flung  about  you  —  some  of  your  atta-of-rose  fascinations  —  and 
nothing  but  a  good  strong  teri'ibl(3  vision  will  save  you.  And 
if  it  (lid  save  you.  you  might  be  that  woman  I  was  thinking 
of  a  little  while  ago  when  I  looked  at  your  face  :  the  woman 
whose  beauty  nuikes  a  great  task  easier  to  men  instead  of 
turning  them  away  from  it.  1  am  not  likely  to  see  such  tine 
issues ;  but  they  may  come  where  a  woman's  spirit  is  linely 
touched.     1  should  like  to  be  sure  they  would  come  to  you." 

''Why  are  you  not  likely  to  know  what  becomes  of  me?" 
said  Esther,  turning  away  her  eyes  in  spite  of  his  command. 
"Why  should  you  not  always  be  my  father's  friend  and 
mine  ? '' 

''  Oh,  I  shall  go  away  as  soon  as  I  can  to  some  large  town," 
said  Felix,  in  his  more  usual  tone,  —  "some  ugly,  wicked,  mis- 
erable place.  1  want  to  be  a  demagogue  of  a  new  sort;  an 
honest  one,  if  possible,  who  will  tell  the  people  they  are  blind 
and  foolish,  and  neither  Hatter  them  nor  fatten  on  them.  I 
have  my  heritage  —  an  order  I  belong  to.  I  have  the  blood  of 
a  line  of  handicraftsmen  in  my  veins,  and  I  want  to  stand  up 
for  the  lot  of  the  handicraftsman  as  a  good  lot,  in  which  a 
man  nm}'  be  better  trained  to  all  the  best  functions  of  his 
nature  than  if  he  belonged  to  the  grimacing  s(.^t  who  have 
visiting-cards,  and  are  proud  to  be  thought  richer  tlian  tlieir 
neighbors." 

"  Would  nothing  nver  make  it  seem  right  to  you  to  change 
your  mind?"  said  Estlier  (she  had  ra])idly  Avoven  some  jiossi- 
bilities  out  of  tlu^  new  uncertainties  in  her  ov\-n  lot.  thougli 
she  would  not  for  the  world  have  had  I'eli.x  know  of  lier 
weaving).  '■  Su])j>()se,  by  some  means  or  other,  a  fortune 
miglit  come  to  you  lionorably  —  by  marriage,  or  in  any  other 
unex]u>cted  way  —  would  you  see  no  change  in  your  cmirse  ?  "' 

"  ^'o."  said  Felix.  ])eremptorily ;  ■■  I  will  never  be  rieli.  1 
don't  count  that  as  any  peculiar  viitue.  Some  men  do  w.'ll  tf) 
accept  riches,  but  that  is  not  my  inward  vocation  :  T  ha\'i'  no 
fellow-feeling  witli  the  riidi  a>  a  class;  the  habits  of  rli'ur 
lives  are  odious  to  me.  Tlinnsaiiiis  of  men  liave  wi'ilded  pov- 
erty because  they  cxjiect  to  'u<  \i,  Iciiven  fo]'  it,;  1  il'in't-  <'X])ect 
to  go  to  heaven  for  itj  Init  I  wnl  n  because  it  epeJ-le-;  nv  *-'^  do 

VOL.    III.  lb 


274  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

what  T  most  want  to  do  on  earth.  Whatever  the  hopes  for 
the  world  iiuiy  be  —  whether  great  or  small  —  I  am  a  man  of 
this  g-eneration  ;  I  will  try  to  make  life  less  bitter  for  a  few 
within  my  reach.  It  is  held  reasonable  enough  to  toil  for  the 
fortunes  of  a  family,  though  it  may  turn  to  imbecility  in  the 
third  gencu-ation.     T  ch.oose  a  family  with  more  chances  in  it." 

Esther  looked  before  h(>r  dreamily  till  she  said,  "That  seems 
a  hai'd  lot;  yet  it  is  a  groat  one."     She  rose  to  walk  back. 

"Then  you  don't  thiuk  I'm  a  fool,"  said  "Felix,  loudl_y, 
starting  to  his  feet,  and  then  stooping  to  gather  up  his  cap 
and  stick. 

"'  Of  course  you  suspected  me  of  that  stujiidity." 

"'Well — women,  unless  lh(\y  are  Saint  Theresas  or  Eliza- 
beth l''i'ys,  generally  think  this  sort  of  thing  maduess,  unless 
when  they  read  of  it  m  the  Bible." 

'•'  A  woman  can  hardly  ever  choose  in  that  way  ;  she  is  de- 
pendent on  what  hai)pens  to  her  She  nnist  take  meaner 
things,  because  only  meaner  things  are  within  her  reach." 

"''  AVliy,  can  you  imagine  yourself  choosing  hardship  as  the 
bettf'r  lot  ?  "  said  Felix,  looking  at  her  \vith  a  sudden  question 
in  his  eyes. 

"■  Yi'S,  I  can."  she  said,  flushing  over  neck  and  brow. 

Their  woivls  were  chai-giMl  with  a,  meauing  de]H'ndent  en- 
tirely on  the  sicret  eousciousiiess  of  each.  Xotliing  had  been 
said  whieli  was  ne(>essarily  ])ei-sonal.  They  walked  a  i'ew 
yards  aloni:  the  I'oad  l-y  winch  they  had  come,  witliotd;  further 
;-:]>eeeli.  till  Felix  said  gently,  '•' Take  my  arm."  She  took  it, 
and  tliey  \valke«l  liom(>  so,  entii'ely  without  conversation. 
i'"e]i\  was  struggling  as  a  lirm  man.  struggles  with  a  teiiipta- 
tion.  seeiii'_c  Iteyond  it  and  disbelieying  its  lying  promise. 
I'^sllier  \vas  stiMi ■_;■-■! iiig  as  a  woman  struggles  with  the  yearn- 
ing loi'  somi'  expression  of  loy(\  and  witii  y(>xation  under  that: 
suhjeetioii  to  [X  yearning  whicli  is  not  likely  to  be  satisfied. 
l'>aeh  was  conscious  of  a  silence  wliich  each  was  unable  to 
break,  till  they  entered  Malthousi^  Lane,  and  were  witaiin  a 
ftt\y  \'ards  of  tlie  minister's  door. 

"It  is  getting  dii-k,"  b\dix  tlien  said:  "will  Mr.  Lyon  be 
anxious  about  you  ?  " 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  275 

"  No,  I  think  not.  Lycldy  would  tell  liini  that  1  went  out 
with  you,  and  that  you  carried  a  large  stick,"  saici-  Esther, 
with  her  light  laugh. 

Felix  went  in  with  Esther  to  take  tea,  but  the  conv^^rsation 
was  entirely  b(>tween  him  and  Mr.  Lyon  about  tlie  tricks  of 
canvassing,  the  foolisli  personality  of  the  placards,  and  the 
probabilities  of  Trans; tnie's  return,  as  to  which  Felix  declared 
luniscU'  to  have  becom(>  indifferent.  This  scepticism  made  the 
minister  uneasy  :  he  iiad  great  belief  in  the  old  political  watch- 
words, had  preached  tliat  universal  sulfnige  and  no  ballot  were 
agreeable  to  the  will  of  God,  and  liked  to  believe  that  a  visible 
"  instrument  "  was  forllicoming  in  the  lladical  Candidate  who 
had  pronounced  emphatically  against  "Whig  finality.  Felix, 
being  in  a  perverse  mood,  contended  that  universal  suffrage 
would  be  equally  agreeable  to  the  devil ;  that  he  would  change 
his  [lolitics  a  little,  liave  a  larger  traiiic,  and  see  himself  more 
fully  representi'd  in  I'arliament. 

''Xay,  my  friend,"'  said  tln^  ministiu',  ^'' you  are  again  sport- 
ing with  ])ai-adc)X  ;  for  you  will  n(,)t  deny  that  you  glory  in  the 
name  of  Kadieal.  or  Woot-and-bi'anch  man,  as  they  said  in  the 
great  tinu.^s  when  Xoiieonformity  was  in  its  giaiit  youth." 

"  A  IJadical  —  yes;  hut  I  want  to  go  to  some  roots  a  good 
deal  lov.'er  down  than  the  fmnchise."' 

'•  Truly  tln'i'e  is  a  work  within  which  cannot  b^'  disjiensed 
with;  but  it  is  our  preliminary  work  to  free  men  !Vom  tli<'  sti- 
Ih'd  life  of  politieal  nullity,  and  bring  them  into  what  Milton 
calls  -the  liberal  a.ir."  wherein  alone  can  be  wi'ouglit  the  final 
a-iumphs  of  the   Spirit."' 

■■  With  all  my  he;i;'t.  iSut  while  C'alilian  is  Caliban,  though 
you  multiply  him  by  a  million,  he  "11  ^\'oI■^llip  every  'Ih'inculo 
that  caia'ies  a  bottle.  I  lorget.  though  —  yiju  don't  read 
Shakespeare,  Mr.  Lvmi.'" 

•'■1  am  bound  to  confess  that  1  have  so  far  looked  into  a 
V(dume-  of  l^<lhei'"s  as  to  coui'eivc  your  meaning-;  but  the 
fantasies  therein  \\-ere  so  little  to  be  rc'coucilcd  \v[i]\  a  steaily 
vHintemiilation  of  that  diviui'  econcmy  wliich  is  hidden  from 
senst'  and  revealed  to  faith,  that  1  forbore  the  reading,  as 
likely  to  perturb  my  miuistrat ious." 


276  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

Esther  sat  by  in  unusual  silence.  The  conviction  that 
Felix  willed  her  exclusion  from  his  life  was  making  it  plain 
that  something  more  than  friendship  between  them  was  not 
so  thoroughly  out  of  the  question  as  she  had  always  inwardly 
asserted.  In  her  pain  that  his  choice  lay  aloof  from  her,  she 
was  compelled  frankly  to  admit  to  herself  the  longing  that  it 
had  been  otherwise,  and  that  he  had  entreated  her  to  share 
his  difticult  life.  He  was  like  no  one  else  to  her  ;  he  had 
seemed  to  bring  at  once  a  law,  and  the  love  that  gave  strength 
to  obey  the  law.  Yet  the  next  moment,  stung  by  his  inde- 
pendence of  her,  she  denied  that  she  loved  him  ;  she  had  only 
longed  for  a  moral  support  under  the  negations  of  her  life. 
If  she  were  not  to  have  that  support,  all  effort  seemed  useless. 

Esther  had  been  so  long  vised  to  hear  the  formulas  of  her 
father's  belief  without  feeling  or  understanding  them,  that 
they  had  lost  all  power  to  touch  her.  The  first  religious 
experience  of  her  life  —  the  first  self-questioning,  the  first  vol- 
untary subjection,  the  first  longing  to  acquire  the  strength  of 
greater  motives  and  obey  the  more  strenuous  rule  —  had  come 
to  her  through  Felix  Holt.  Xo  wonder  that  she  felt  as  if  the 
loss  of  him  were  inevitable  backsliding. 

]*>ut  Avas  it  certain  that  she  should  lose  him  ?  She  did  not 
believe  that  he  was  really  indifferent  to  her. 


CHAPTER  XXVIIl. 

7 />'(,?.     But  what  say?  .Tn;)itor,  T  ask  theel 
Ci.oini.     Alas.  sii-.  I  know  not  .Iii])itrT  : 

I  never  drank  with  liini  in  nil  my  h'fe. 

I'itas  Androm'cus, 

Thk  multiplir'ation  of  tuicomplimentary  placards  noticed  h_y 
Mr.  Lyon  aii'l  I-^lix  Holt  was  one  of  several  signs  that  the 
da\s  of  noiiiiiKit ion  nnd  clcotioii  wore  a})proae]iing.  The 
presence  of  the  lie  vising    Bai'rister  in  Treby  was  not  only  an 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  277 

opportunity  iov  ;ill  persons  not  otlicrwise  busy  to  show  their 
zeal  for  the  purification  of  tlie  voting-lists,  but  also  to  recon- 
cile private  ease  and  public  duty  by  standing  about  the  streets 
and  lounging  at  doors. 

It  was  no  light  business  for  Tr(;bians  to  form  an  opinion  ; 
the  mere  fact  of  a  public  functionary  with  an  unfamiliar  title 
was  enough  to  give  them  pause,  as  a  premiss  that  was  not 
to  be  quickly  started  from.  To  Mr.  3'ink,  the  saddler,  for 
example,  until  some  distinct  injury  or  benefit  had  accrued  to 
liim,  the  existence  of  the  Kevising  Barrister  was  like  the 
existence  of  tlie  young  giraffe  which  Wombwell  had  lately 
brought  into  those  parts — it  was  to  be  contemplated,  and  not 
criticised.  ^Mr.  I'irdv  professed  a  deep-dyed  Toryism;  but  he 
regarded  all  huilt-finding  as  Radical  and  somewhat  im])ious, 
as  disturljing  to  trade,  and  likely  to  oifend  the  gentry  or  the 
servants  through  whom  their  liarness  was  ordered  :  tliere  was 
a  Xemesis  in  things  which  made  objection  unsafe,  and  even 
rlic  Jiefonn  iSill  was  a  sort  (jf  electric  eel  which  a  tliriving 
trndi'siiian  liad  b-'tter  leave  alone.  It  was  oidy  tlie  '•ra})ists'' 
wlio  lived  far  enough  off  to  be  spoken  ol'  uncivilly. 

]>ut  ^\v.  I'iidc  was  fond  of  news,  whicli  he  collected  and 
retaih'tl  witii  perl'ect  im]Kirtialitv,  noting  fiu'ts  and  rejt^cting 
comments.  Uence  he  Vv'as  well  ph'ased  to  liave  Ids  shop  so 
constant  a  phun^  of  resort  for  loungers,  tliat  to  many  Trebians 
there  was  a  strong  association  between  the  pleasures  of  gossip 
and  tlie  smell  of  leather.  lie  had  the  satisfaction  of  chalk- 
ing and  cutting,  and  ol'  kee]iing  his  joui-ueynien  (dose  at  work, 
rit  the  vei'v  time  that  he  h^arntvl  from  liis  visitors  who  wei'e 
those  whose  votes  had  been  called  in  (juestion  befoi'e  His 
IfoiK^)!'.  how  T>awver  Jermvn  had  be(Mi  too  much  for  Lawyer 
Lnbi'oii  about  Todd's  cottages,  and  how.  in  the  opinion  nf 
some  to^^■nsJnell.  this  lool^ing  into  the  valiu'  of  ])eO]ile"s  lir"p- 
ert}-.  and  sweai-in-j;  it  down  lulcw  a  certain  sum.  was  a  n.isty 
inquisitorial  kiu'l  of  thing:  while  otlcrs  observed  that  being 
niee  to  ;i  W'w  poiiiids  was  all  noir-ense  —  thev  should  put  the 
fi'nire  high  en'MiLrh.  and  th'Mi  ne^'er  mind  if  a  voter's  (jualifi- 
cation  w;is  tliereiihouf  s.  I'>;u,  -<;iid  Mr.  Sims  tin'  aiii-tioneer, 
«^>ver\  thini;  was   done  i'or  tip'  -;ik'-  of  the  law\-ers.      Mr.  Pink 


-^io  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

suggested  impartially  that  lawyers  must  live  ;  but  Mr.  Sims, 
having  a  ready  auctioneering  wit,  did  not  see  that  so  many  of 
them  need  live,  or  that  babies  were  born  lawyers.  Mr.  Pink 
felt  that  this  speculation  was  complicated  by  the  ordering  of 
side-saddles  for  lawyers'  daughters,  and,  returning  to  the  iirm 
ground  of  fact,  stated  that  it  was  getting  dusk. 

Tlie  dusk  seemed  deepened  the  next  moment  by  a  tall  figure 
obstructing  the  doorv/ay,  at  sight  of  whom  Mr.  J'iidv  rubbed  liis 
hands  and  smihid  and  bowed  more  than  once,  with  evident  so- 
licitude to  show  honor  where  honor  was  due,  while  he  said  — 

"jNIr.  ChristiaJi,  sir,  liow  do  you  do.  sir  ?" 

Christian  answered  witli  tlie  condescending  familiarity  of  a 
su[)erior.  "Very  Ijadly,  I  can  tell  you,  witli  these  (•(unfounded 
])races  that  you  wer(i  to  make  su(;li  a  line  jolj  of.  See,  old 
fellow,  tliey  "vc  Inirst  out  again.'' 

"Very  sorry,  sir.     C'nn  you  leave  tliem  with  me  ?" 

''Oh  yes,  ril  leave  them.  Wiiat 's  the  news,  eh?"  said 
Christian,  ludf  seatijig  himself  on  a  high  stool,  and  beating 
his  boot  witli  a  liand-wliij). 

"Well,  sii-,  wr  look  to  y(»u  to  tell  us  that."'  said  Tilr.  Pink, 
with  a  knowing  SDiih^  ''You're  at  head-qiuirters  —  eh,  sir? 
That  was  what  I  said  to  Mr.  Scales  the  otlier  <l;vy.  He  came 
lor  some  sti';ij)S,  ]\Ii'.  Scales  did.  ;uul  he  asked  that  i]uestion 
in  I'l-i'tt}'  ne:;r  the  same  terms  that  yo'a  've  done,  sir,  and  [ 
answered  him,  ns  I  luay  say,  ditto.  Not  meaning  any  dis- 
I'e:  Meet  to  }"oa.  sii',  out  a.  way  of  sjieaking." 

"  Co'iif,  that  's  ga.'iimon,  Piiilc,"  said  Chi'istian.  "  ^"ou  know 
fverythiiig.  Y<n\  fail  tel!  me,  if  you  will,  who  is  the  fellow 
empii)y"d  to  pa^te  u])  Ti'aiisome's  handhills  ?  "" 

'•  Wliat  do  //e/c  say,  Mr.  Sims?"'  said  I'iid-:.  hujking  at  the 
auctioneer. 

"Why,  you  know  and  T  know  well  enougli.  It's  Tommy 
Ti'ounsem  —  aa  uli!.  (aipolin'i.  halC-niaii  lellow.  Most  people 
know  'i'oinmy.      i  "ve  employed  him  m\"sel['  for  charity." 

"  Where  shall  I  iiml  him  ?  '"  said  Christian. 

"At  the  Ci'o.-s-h:---:.  ii:  Pollard's  Ihid.  liiost  likely."  said 
^li'.  Sims.  "  r  doii't  kiiow  where  he  pui,,-^  himsidf  when  ').0 
is  n't  at  the  public." 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  279 

"He  was  a  stoutish  fellow  tit'teeu  year  ago,  when  he  car- 
ried pots,"  said  Mr.  Pink. 

"  Ay,  and  has  snared  many  a  hare  in  his  time,"  said  IMr. 
Sims.  "  ]^)ut  ho  was  always  a  little  cracked.  Lord  bless  you  ! 
he  used  to  swear  he  had  a  right  to  the  Transome  estate." 

"Why,  wliat  })ut  that  notion  into  his  head?"  said  Chris- 
tian, who  had  learned  more  than  he  expected. 

"The  lawing,  sir  —  nothing  but  the  having  about  the 
estate.  'I'here  was  a  deal  of  it  twenty  year  ago,"  said  Mr. 
I'ink.  '-Tommy  happened  to  turn  up  hereabout  at  that 
time;  a  big,  lungeous  fellow,  who  would  speak  disrespectfully 
of  hanybody." 

"Oh,  he  meant  no  harm,"  said  ^Mr.  Sims.  "He  was  fond  of 
a  drop  to  drink,  and  Jiot  cpiite  right  in  the  upper  story,  and  he 
ccnild  hear  no  difference  between  Trounsem  and  Transome. 
It's  an  odd  way  of  speaking  they  have  m  that  part  where  he 
was  b(n'u — a  little  noi'th'ard.  You'll  hear  it  in  his  tongue 
now,   if  you  talk  to  him." 

"Attlie  Cross-Keys  I  sliall  find  him,  eh?"  said  Christiau, 
getting  off  liis  stool.      "  (iood-day,  Tink  —  good-day." 

Cliiasiian  Avent  sti'uight  li'om  the  saddler's  to  Quorlen's,  the 
Tory  ])i'inter"s.  with  whom  lu^  liad  contrived  a  })olitical  S[)ree. 
Quorlrii  was  a  new  man  in  Trcby,  who  had  so  reductMi  the 
trade  of  Dow.  the  old  hci't'ditary  jirintcr.  tliat  Dow  luvd  la])sed 
to  Wliiggerv  au'^  luiilicalism  and  oi)inions  in  generah  so  far 
as  tlu\v  were  contented  to  express  tliemselves  in  a  small  st(>cl-: 
of  t>"])es.  (\Mioi'len  had  brought  his  Dullield  wit  with  him.  ami 
insisted  thai,  rebgioii  ami  joking  wei'e  1  lie  liaiidmaids  of  poli- 
ticks; on  wliicli  ]irineiph;  he  and  Christian  undertook  tlie  jok- 
ing, ami  leif,  the  religion  to  the  Het'tor.  Tlie  joke  at  ])resent  in 
(Uiestion  wa.s  a  practical  one.  Clu'i^tian.  turning  into  theshoj). 
merely  said,  '•  I've  found  him  oiii  --give  me  th(>  ]ilacards;"' 
and.  tucking  a  ihickisli  liat  be.mile.  v.-ra])pe(l  in  a  black  gla/ei] 
Cotton  bag.  nude!-  his  arm.  walkeil  dut  into  the  dusk  nu-ain. 

"'Su]i)iose  !io\v."  h(>  said  to  hi  :::S'li',  as  he  sti'ode  alomz' — ■ 
"sujipose  tliere  should  be  som.e  ;-;rc;'et  to  be  got  out  (d'  this 
old  seam"i>.  or  some  notion  tha;  '■  as  good  as  a  secret  to  those 
who  know   how  to  use  it?      That    wtmld   be  virtue   rewarded. 


280  FELIX   TIOLT,    THI-:    RADICAL. 

But  I  'in  afraid  tlie  old  tosspot  is  not  likely  to  be  good  for 
much.  There  "s  truth  in  -wine,  and  there  may  be  some  in  gin 
and  muddy  beer;  but  whether  it's  truth  worth  my  knowing, 
is  another  question.  I  've  got  plenty  of  truth  in  my  time  out 
of  men  who  were  half-seas-over,  but  never  any  that  was  worth 
a  sixpence  to  me.'' 

The  Cross-Keys  was  a  very  old-fashioned  '-'public:"  its  bar 
was  a  big  rambling  kitchen,  with  an  undulating  brick  Hoor; 
the  small-pa.ned  windows  threw  an  interesting  obscurity  over 
the  far-off  dresser,  garnished  with  pewter  and  tin,  and  with 
large  dishes  tliat  seemed  to  speak  of  better  times ;  the  two 
settles  were  half  pushed  under  the  wide-mouthed  chimney; 
and  the  grate  with  its  brick  hobs,  massive  iron  crane,  and  vari- 
ous ])ot] looks,  suggested  a  generous  plenty  possibly  existent 
in  all  moods  and  tenses  except  the  indicative  present.  On^^- 
way  of  getting  an  idea  of  our  fellow-countrymen's  miseries 
is  to  go  and  look  at  their  pleasures.  The  Cross-Keys  had  a 
fungous-featured  landlord  and  a  yellow  sickly  landlady,  with 
a  lai'ge  white  kerchief  bound  round  her  ca]),  as  if  her  head  had 
recently  recpiired  surgery  ;  it  liad  doctored  alt>,  an  odor  of  bad 
tobacco,  and  remarkably  strong  cheese.  It  was  not  "what  As- 
triea,  when  come  back,  might  be  ex])ected  to  a])pr(n'e  as  the 
scene  of  ecstatic  enjoyment  for  tlie  beings  whose  sjiceial  ])re- 
rogative  it  is  to  lift  their  sublime  faces  ttjwai'ds  heaven.  Still, 
there  was  ample  S|)ace  on  the  hearth  —  aecommoihit ioii  tor  nar- 
)';itive  bagmen  or  boxmen  —  room  for  a  man  to  sli'etch  his 
legs:  iiis  brain  was  not  jiressed  ui)on  by  a  wliite  wall  within  a 
vard  ol  him,  and  the  liglit  did  not  stare  in  mercilessly  on  bare 
ugliness,  turning  the  fire  to  aslies.  Cniiijiared  with  some  beer- 
lidusi's  (if  this  mure  advanced  period,  the  Cross-Jveys  of  that 
day  ]ireseiiteil  a  Ingli  standard  of  ])leasui'e. 

ISnt  tliou'^li  this  venerabh'  '^  pnblir ''  liatl  not  failed  to  share 
in  tlie  I'reent  piilitieal  exeiteineiit  of  drinking,  the  ])leasures  it 
offered  Were  tint  at  thi>  raiJN  hmir  of  the  evening  sought  by 
a  numerous  company.  'IMna''-  wei'r  unly  tlirct^  or  four  pi])es 
being  smoked  by  tlie  flrtliirht.  but  it  was  enough  for  Christian 
when  he  found  that  one  of  these  was  hein^-  smoked  l)y  the  bill- 
stickei,  whose  large   tlat  basket,  stuffed  with  placards,  leaned 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  281 

near  him  against  the  settle.  So  splendid  an  apparition  ns 
Christian  was  not  a  little  startlini^'  at  tlie  Cross-Keys,  and  was 
gazed  at  in  expectant  silence ;  but  he  was  a  stranger  in  Pol- 
lard's End,  and  was  taken  for  the  highest  style  of  traveller 
when  he  declared  that  he  w^as  deucedly  thirsty,  ordered  six- 
penny-worth of  gin  and  a  large  jug  of  water,  and,  putting  a  few 
dro[)s  of  the  spirit  into  his  own  glass,  invited  Tommy  Troun- 
sem.  who  sat  next  him,  to  heli)  himself.  Tommy  was  not 
slower  than  a  shaking  hand  obliged  him  to  be  in  accepting 
this  invitation.  He  was  a  tall  broad-shouldered  old  fellow, 
who  had  once  been  good-looking  ;  but  his  cheeks  ;ind  chest 
were  both  hollow  now,  and  his  limbs  were  shrunken. 

'•'You've  got  some  bills  there,  master,  eh?"  said  Ciiristian, 
pointing  to  the  basket.     "Is  there  an  auction  coming  on?" 

-'Auction?  no,"  said  Tommy,  with  a  gruff  hoarseness,  which 
was  the  remnant  of  a  jovial  bass,  and  with  an  accent  which 
differed  from  the  Trebian  lit  fully,  as  an  earl}'  habit  is  wont  to 
reasss'rt  itself,  "  I've  nouglit  to  do  wi'  auctions;  I'm  a  pol'ti- 
cal  cliarictei'.     It's  me  am  gr'tling  Trounsem  into  Parl'ment." 

"Trounscm.  says  he."'  the  landloi-d  observed,  taking  out  his 
pi[)e  with  a  low  laugh..  '-It's  Transome,  sir.  ."Nbaybe  you 
don't  belong  to  this  part.  It 's  the  candidate  'ull  do  most  for 
the  working  men,  and_  's  proved  it  too.  in  the  way  o'  being 
open-handed  and  wishing  "em  to  enjoy  themselves.  If  1  "d 
twenty  votes.  I'd  give  ont^  for  'i'ransume.  and  I  dojr't  care  who 
liears  me." 

I'he  landlord  peei)ed  out  from  his  fun'_;'ous  cluster  of  features 
witli  a  l)eery  cunlidence  that  tlie  liigh  ligure  ol'  twenty  had 
somehow  raided  tlie  hypotlietic  vahit^  of  his  vote. 

'•Spilkins.  now."  said  Toinmy,  waving  his  hand  to  the  land- 
lord, '•'you  let  one  genelman  speak  to  another,  will  you?  Tliis 
genelman  wants  to  know  about  niv  bills.  Does  he,  or  (h,>es  n't 
he  ?  •" 

'•  Wliat  tluMi  ?  I  spok(^  according,"  said  the  landlord,  mildly 
holdiuL;-  hi>  own. 

"  \'ou  "re  all  very  well.  Spilkins."  returned  Tommy.  ■•  iuil 
y' are  n't  me.  1  know  what  tli'  bills  are.  It  V  oublic  bwsi- 
uess.      I'm   lioue  o"  your  eonnuiai   kiill-stickers.   niaster:    I've 


282  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

left  off  stij'R.mg  vip  ten  guineas  reward  for  a  sheep-stealer,  or 
low  stuff  like  that.  These  are  Trounsenrs  bills ;  and  I  'm  the 
rightful  family,  and  so  I  give  him  a  lift.  A  Trounsem  I  am, 
and  a  Trounsem  I  "11  be  buried ;  and  if  Old  Xick  tries  to  lay- 
hold  on  me  for  poaching,  I  "11  say,  '  You  be  hanged  for  a  law- 
yer. Old  Nick ;  every  hare  and  plicasrint  on  the  Truunsem's 
land  is  mine  ; '  and  what  rises  the  fumilv;  rises  old  Tommy  ; 
and  we  're  going  to  get  into  Parl'ment  —  that 's  the  long  and 
the  short  on  't,  master.  And  I  'm  the  lu-ad  o'  the  family, 
and  I  stick  the  bills.  There  "s  Johnsons,  and  Thomsons,  and 
Jacksons,  and  Billsons ;  but  I'm  a  Truunsem,  I  am.  AVhat 
do  you  say  to  that,  master  ?  " 

This  appeal,  acfompanied  Ijy  a  blov,'  on  the  table,  while  the 
landlord  winked  at  the  company,  was  addressi'd  to  Christian, 
who  answered,  with  severe  gravity  — 

"I  say  there  isn't  any  work  more  hcaiorable  than  Iji h- 
sticking."' 

*•  Xo.  no,"'  said  Tommy,  wagging  his  head  from  side  to  side. 
'•'I  thought  you'd  come  in  to  that.  I  thought  you'd  know 
better  tlian  say  contraii'y.  liut  I'll  shake  hands  Avi"  you;  I 
don"t  want  to  knock  anv  nian"s  head  off.  I  "m  a  good  cha[i  — 
y  Sound  croek  —  an  old  family  ke}i'  out  o'  my  rights.  I  shall 
go  to  Ijeaven.  i'or  all  Old  Xick."' 

As  t!)i'se  celest  ial  ])i'o'--|»ects  mi'_;ht  im])ly  that  a  little  extra. 
gin  wa'^  i  M'n-iiniiiig  to  tell  on  the  bill-<ticker.  (■l.ri-tian  wa>!iteii 
to  111-.-  !i(,  time  in  arresting  his  attention,  lie  laid  his  hand 
on  Toniiav's  arm  and  s])oke  eniphatically. 

'•  r>iit  1  "11  tell  yr.u  Avhat  you  bill--l  iek''rs  are  not  u]i  to.      You 
should  ]:>■  on    the  look-out  when  1  )eliar!'y"s  ^;i(le   ha\-e   .sinck  uj; 
go  and  ]iaste  voui's  ovi-r  {heia.      1  kntiw  where 
I'    Df'Viarrv's   bills  now.      ('oiae   a.lom;-   with   ]ne. 
you.      We'll    i.asle  them  o\'er.   and  then  we'll 
tivat   the  eoiajiany.'' 
said  Tommy.      '•  Let  "s  be  off  then." 
.r  the  thoroughly  i:.;n  .1.  orijijially  hale  drunk- 

Ot    e;;,>i|y     lose     llls     he;i(l    or    lee-^   (j)'    tllC   0]ilin:il'\ 

amount  of  methoi]  ja  li;>  talk.      Strin'^ers  (jtten  siqiooseil  that 
ToUimy  was   tijisy    when  he   had   e-uiy   taken  what  he  called 


fresh 

bills.    ■.■AU 

there 

"s  a    lot  < 

an<l 

1  "11    -how 

come 

baek   an 

'■  1 

b-)oray  !" 

He 

'  was  one 

ai'd?^. 

and  did 

FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  283 

"one  blessed  pint,"  chiefly  from  that  glorious  contentment 
with  himself  and  his  adversi;  fortunes  which  is  not  usually 
characteristic  of  the  sober  Briton.  He  knocked  the  ashes  out 
of  his  pijie,  seized  his  paste-vessel  and  his  basket,  and  pre- 
pared to  start  with  a  satisfactory  promise  that  he  could  know 
what  he  was  about. 

The  lanijloi'd  and  some  otliers  had  confidently  concluded 
that  they  understood  all  about  Christian  now.  lie  was  a 
Transonif's  man,  come  to  see  afttu'  the  bill-sticking  in  Tran- 
some's  interest.  The  landlord,  telling  his  yellow  wife  snap- 
pislily  to  open  the  door  for  tlie  gentleman,  ho^jed  soon  to  see 
him  again. 

"This  is  a  Transome's  house,  sir,"'  he  observed,  '"'in  respect 
of  entertaining  customers  ui'  that  cohu'.  I  do  my  duty  as  a 
publican,  wluch,  if  I  know  it,  is  U)  turn  l)ack  no  gencluian's 
money,  I  say,  give  every  genclnum  a  chanch,  and  the  more 
tlic  merrie)'.  in  rarl'merit  and  out  of  it.  And  if  anybody  says 
they  want  ])ut  two  ]';nTuicnt  men.  I  say  it  'ud  be  better  for 
trade  if  tliei'e  was  six  f>f  "em.  and  voters  accoi'ding." 

'•Ay,  ay,"'  said  Christian  ;  '•you  "re  a  sensd)le  man,  landlord. 
You  don't  mean  to  vote  for  Debarjy.  then,  (di  ?  ■■' 

'•  Xot  noliow.""  said  thi'  landloi'd.  thinking  that  where  nega- 
tives were  good  tlie  more  you  iiad  of  tlieni  llie  better. 

As  soon  as  tlie  door  had  elosi'd  beliind  Cliristian  and  his  new 
cojnpanion,  Tommy  said  — 

'•  Xow.  niasler.  if  you 'n'  to  be  my  lantern,  don't  3-(ur  ])e  a 
Jackv  Lantern,  -wliiidi  ]  lake  to  ]nean  one  as  leads  you  the 
wi'ong  way.  J'^or  1  "11  tell  you  vhid-  —  if  you've  had  the  budv 
to  i'all  in  wi"  Tommy  Trouii-eia.  don't  you  let  him  dro])." 

'•X(j,  no  —  to  be  suii'i'  not.""  -aid;  (  diid-tian.  ••Come  along 
here.      We  "11  go  to  tlie  l;ae];    ilivu-iy  wall  lirst."' 

'■  Xo,  no  ;  don't  von  h't  ]\ir  dri']i.  (live  jue  a  shilling  any 
day  you  like,  and  I'll  tell  you  more  nor  you'll  lieai'  fj'oni 
S]iilkins  in  a  week,  dluu'r  isna  niau}  men  like  m-e.  I  eairied 
]iots  for  tifteen  year  of!'  and  (>n  --■.■.! ait  do  3'ou  think  o'  that 
n(nv.  foi-  a  man  as  nnu'lit  b.a"  livcil  no  there  atTrounsein  bark, 
and  snared  his  own  g:nne  ?  Wdiirh  1  "d  lia'  done."  said  'j'l  miuy, 
wagging  liis  head  at  Christian  in  tlie  dimness  undi.->tuj-I)id   by 


284  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   llADICAL. 

gas.  "  None  o'  your  sliooting  for  me  —  it 's  two  to  one  you  '11 
miss.  )Snaring  's  inore  fishing-like.  You  bait  your  hook, 
and  if  it  isna  tlie  fishes'  good-will  to  come,  that  's  nothing 
ag;iiu'  tlie  sporting  genelman.  And  that  's  what  1  say  by 
smiring."' 

"  Jiut  if  you'd  a  right  to  the  Transome  estate,  how  was  it 
you  w(M'e  kept  out  of  it,  old  boy  ?  It  was  some  foul  shame  or 
other,  eh  '.'  " 

"It's  tlie  law  —  tliat  \s  what  it  is.  You're  a  good  sort  o' 
chap;  I  don't  mind  telling  you.  'There's  folks  Ijorn  to  prop- 
erty, and  ihci-c  's  folks  catch  hold  on  it ;  and  the  law's  made 
for  th;'iii  as  catch  hold.  I'm  pretty  deep;  I  see  a  good  deal 
further  than  Spilkins.  There  was  Xed  I'atcli,  th(;  piMllcr,  used 
to  say  to  me,  'You  cainia  read.  Tommy,'  says  he.  'No;  thank 
you,'  says  I;  'I'm  not  going  to  crack  my  headpiece  to  make 
myself  as  big  a  fool  as  you.'  1  was  fond  o'  Xed.  ]Many 's  the 
pot  w(;  've  had  together." 

"I  see  well  enough  you're  deep,  Tommy.  How  came  you 
to  know  you  were  Ijorn  to  ^'I'operty  ?  " 

"It  was  the  regester  —  the  parish  regester,"  said  Tommy, 
with  his  knowing  wag  of  tlu;  head,  "'that  shows  as  you  was 
boi'n.  I  allays  felt  it  inside  me  as  I  was  someljody,  and  T 
could  see  other  eiiaps  thouglit  it  on  me  too ;  and  so  one  day 
at  Tatth\sha\v,  wlicre  1  j^cp  fcrrits  and  a  little  l)it  of  a  pidjlie, 
thci'e  comes  a  line  man  Inol^iuM-  uft'T  jne,  and  walking  me  uji 
and  down  \vi'  'ini'slions.  .\nd  I  made  out  from  the  (derk  as 
lii'M  bi-iii  at  tlie  regcsfi'r;  and  \  gave  the  clei'k  a  ])ot  or  tv.'n. 
•aid  he  got  it  ofl'  our  parson  ns  the  name  (;'  Trounsem  was  a. 
;4i-c;it  name  herf-aJiout.  .\nd  T  waits  a  liit  for  my  fine  man 
1o  cojiic  again.  Thinks  I.  i  i'  1bci-i''s  pi-ojici'fy  wants  a  ri'::;ht 
owner,  I  sliall  be  called  Lor;  For  I  did  n't  know  the  law  then. 
And  !  w.-iifed  and  availed,  till  I  see'd  no  fun  i"  waiting.  Sr) 
I  [larted  wi'  my  pablie  and  my  ferrets  —  foi-  she  was  dend 
a'ready.  my  v/if"  was.  and  I  IkuI  n't  no  faind)i-anee.  And  off 
!  started  a  ]>i-et1y  lon;^^  walk  lo  this  country  side,  for  1  could 
walk  loi'  a  wa'_,'ei'  in  tliem  days."' 

•■' Ah  I  well,  iai-'  ue  arc  a1.  the  i'>aek  iSl'ewei-y  Avail.  Tilt 
down  your  paste  and   _\<mr  basket  now,  old    boy,  and  I  '11  help 


fp:lix  holt,  the  kadical.  285 

you.  You  paste,  and  I  '11  give  you  the  bills,  and  then  you 
can  go  on  talking." 

Tommy  obeyed  automatically,  for  he  was  now  carried  away 
by  the  rare  op[)Oi'tunity  of  talking  to  a  new  listener,  and  was 
only  eager  to  go  on  with  his  story.  As  suon  as  his  back  was 
turned,  and  he  was  stooping  over  his  })aste-})ot,  Christian,  Avith 
(piick  adroitness,  exchanged  tlie  })]acards  in  his  own  bag  for 
tliose  in  Tommy's  basket.  Christian's  placards  had  not  been 
printed  at  Treby,  but  were  a  new  lot  which  had  been  sent 
from  Diifheld  that  very  day  —  "highly  spiced,"  Quorlen  luid 
said,  "  coming  from  a  pen  that  was  up  to  that  sort  of  thing.'' 
Christian  had  read  the  first  of  the  sheaf,  and  supposed  they 
were  all  alike.  He  proceeded  to  hand  one  to  Tommy,  and 
said  — 

"  Here,  old  boy,  paste  this  over  the  other.  And  so,  when 
you  got  into  this  country-side,  what  did  you  do  ?  " 

''Do?  AVliy.  [  put  uj)  at  a  good  })ublic  and  ordered  the 
best,  for  I  'd  a  bit  o"  money  in  my  pock(^t ;  and  I  axed  about, 
and  they  said  to  me.  if  it's  Trounsem  business  you're  after, 
you  go  to  L;i\v_ver  .](>riiiyn.  And  1  went;  and  says  I,  going 
along,  he  's  iniiybe  the  line  man  as  walked  me  up  and  down. 
}^>ut  no  such  tiling.  T  "11  t'.'ll  you  Avliat  Lawyer  Jermyn  was. 
He  stands  you  there,  and  liolds  you  away  from  him  wi'  a  pole 
three  yard  long.  ]\c  stares  at  you,  and  says  nothing,  till  you 
feid  like  ;i  Tomfool;  and  tlicn  he  thr(';ils  you  to  set  tlie  justice 
on  you:  and  1  ben  he  "s  sorry  ffii'  yon,  and  hands  you  money, 
an.d  preaclics  a'ou  ;i  sarmint.  and  t(dls  you  you  'r(>  a.  poor  man. 
and  he'll  j.iN'c  you  a  bit  ol'  advici^  —  and  yon. 'd  licvtcr  not 
be  meddlin.g-  wi'  things  bolonging  Id  the  law,  <'lsi'  you'll  be 
eati'licd  u])  in  a  big  u'hcc]  aial  Hy  to  liif-'.  And  I  wont  of  a 
fi'ld  swea.t.  :'n<l  T  wislu'd  [  nu-l!*  ncvci'  come  i'  siglit  o'  Lawyer 
fli-rmyn  again.  Lut  lie  says,  i !'  you  keep  i"  tliis  ncighbor- 
liodd.  bcliav  yonrscir  well,  and  ! '11  jnu'tcct  you.  I  were  di^c!) 
fiiongh,  br.t  it's  im  use  bcin'_;-  'If'-',  'iMUse  you  can  nevfi'  kn(/W 
the  law.  Anil  there  "s  times  when  the  deepest  fellow  "s  worst 
frigliteneib" 

'•^'es.  yes.  There!  Kow  hu' another  placard.  And  so  that 
was  .l11  ?  " 


286  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

"All?"  said  Tommy,  turning  round  and  holding  the  paste- 
brush  in  suspense.  ''  Don't  you  be  running  too  quick.  Thinkrs 
I,  'I'll  meddle  no  more.  I've  got  a  bit  o'  money  —  I'll  buy 
a  basket,  and  be  a  potman.  It 's  a  pleasant  life.  I  shall  live 
at  publics  and  see  the  v/orld,  and  pick  up  'quaintance,  and  get 
a  chanch  penny.'  But  when  I  *d  turned  into  tlie  Red  Lion, 
and  got  niyself  warm  again  wi'  a  drop  o'  hot.  something  jumps 
into  my  liead.  Thinks  I.  Tommy,  you  've  done  finely  for  your- 
self:  you  're  a  rat  as  has  l)roke  up  your  house  to  take  a  journey, 
and  show  yourself  to  a  ferret.  And  then  it  jumps  into  my 
head  :  I  'd  once  two  ferrets  as  turned  on  one  another,  and  the 
little  un  killed  the  big  un.  Says  I  to  tlie  landhxdy,  '  Missis, 
could  you  tell  me  of  a  lawyer,'  says  I,  '  not  very  big  or  fine, 
but  a  second  size  —  a  pig-potato,  lilce  ?  '  '  Tliat  I  can,'  says  she  ; 
'there  's  one  now  in  the  Ixir  parlor.'  'Be  so  kind  as  bring  us 
together,'  says  I.  And  slie  cries  out  — I  think  I  liear  her  now 
—  '  ]Mr.  Johnson  I '     And  wliat  do  you  tliiidc  ?  "' 

At  this  crisis  in  Tommy's  stc-rv  tlie  gray  ch)U(,ls,  winch  had 
been  graduaJly  tliiniiing.  o})eno(l  suihciently  to  let  down  tlie 
sudden  moonlight,  and  sIioav  his  poor  Ixittered  old  figure  and 
face  in  the  attitude  and  with  the  ex^tressiou  of  a  narrator 
sure  of  the  coming  effect  on  his  .auditor  ;  his  body  and  nin-k 
Btretclicd  a  little  on  one  sid(\.  and  his  paste-brush  held  out 
■<vith  an  alarming  intention  of  ta])ping  Christian's  coat-sleeve 
at  the  right  moment.  Christian  started  t(;  a  safe  distance, 
and  said  — 

'■'  It 's  wfinilerfnl.      T  can't  tell  what  to  tliiidv." 

''Then  never  do  you  deny  Old  >>'iek,"'  saiil  Tommy,  with 
solemnity.  "I've  believed  in  liim  more  ever  since.  Who 
was  .Tolinson  ?  Wliv,  .Folmson  Avas  the  line  man  as  had 
walked  me  rq)  ami  down  with  ([iiestions.  And  T  out  with  it 
to  him  then  and  there.  And  lie  ^|M'aks  me  (dvil.  a)ul  says, 
'Comi^  away  Avi'  me.  \\\\  jood  fellow."  And  he  told  me  a  deal 
o'  law.  And  he  says.  A\'hether  you  "I'e  a  I'ommy  Trounsem 
or  no,  it's  no  gdod  to  you.  but  only  Ui  tliem  as  have  got  hold 
f)"  the  pro]ierty.  If  you  was  a  'I'ommy  Trounsem  twenty 
times  over,  it  'ud  I"-  :io  gnod.  for  the  law's  bought  you  out; 
and  your  life  's  U(^  good,  only  to  tlicau  as  have  catehed  hold  o' 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  287 

the  property.  The  more  you  live,  the  more  they  '11  stick  in. 
Not  as  they  want  you  now,  says  he  —  you  're  no  good  to  any- 
body, and  you  might  howl  like  a  dog  forivcr,  and  the  law  'ud 
take  no  notice  on  you.  ISays  Johnson,  I  'jii  doing  a  kind  thing 
by  you,  to  tell  you.  For  that 's  the  law.  And  if  you  want 
to  know  the  law,  master,  you  ask  Johnson.  I  heard  'em  say 
after,  as  lie  was  an  undi-rstrapper  at  Jeiauyn's.  1  've  never 
forgot  it  from  that  day  to  this.  But  1  saw  ele;ir  enough,  a^s  if 
the  law  had  n't  been  again'  me,  the  Trounsem  estate  'ud  ha' 
been  mine.  P>ut  folks  are  fools  hereabouts,  and  I  've  left  off 
talking.  The  more  you  tell  'em  the  truth,  the  more  they  'II 
nivei  believe  you.  And  1  went  and  bought  my  basket  and  the 
pots,  and  — '' 

"  Come,  tlien,  iire  away,"  said  Christian.  "  Here  's  another 
placard." 

'"  I  'm  gett,ing  a  bit  dry,  master." 

"Well,  tl.on,  make  haste,  and  you'll  have  something  to 
driidv  all  tlie  sooner.'' 

Tommy  tiirncd  to  his  work  again,  and  Christian,  continuing 
lus  lu'i]).  said,  •'  And  how  long  has  Mr.  di-nnyn  been  em[)loy- 
ing  you  ?  "' 

''Oh,  ]u>  particular  time  —  off  and  on  ;  l)ut  a  week  or  two 
ago  he  sees  me  upo'  the  roail.  and  S}u'aks  to  mr  uncommon 
civil,  and  tells  me  to  go  u[)  to  his  oili(M'.  and  he  "11  give  mt; 
eni[!]oy.  And  1  was  noways  luiwilling  to  stick  the  bills  to 
get  the  family  into  r;ui"iaent.  For  thei'c's  no  man  can  heli) 
the  law,  Ano'.  ilie  faaiiily's  (he  I'amily,  wlcther  you  cai'ry 
pots  or  no.  .Master.  1  'in  nnconiinon  ilry  ;  my  head  "s  a-ttirning 
round;  it's  talking  so  lone;  (.n  end." 

'Idle  unwontedi  excit'.'in.ent  of  poor  Tommy's  memory  was 
produi'ing  a  reacii(an 

"  Wddl.  d'linmiy."  said  (diristian.  who  had  just  made  a  dis- 
covery anion^-  the  placards  udiich  alteri^d  the  bent  cd'  lii.-; 
thon'_;diis.  '•you  may  go  back  to  the  (dross-Kcvs  now.  if  vrai 
like  :  here's  a  halt-crown  for  V'ni  to  s])end  haiulsciiii'dy.  I 
cau'i  go  bai'k  thcri.'  myself  jn>\  yet:  but  ymi  may  five  my 
resjiects  to  Spilkins.  and_  mind  yo\i  ]ia.-te  tixe  rest  of  tiie  bills 
early  to-morrow  moruuig."' 


288  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

••  Ay,  ay.  But  don't  you  believe  too  much  i'  Spilkins,"  said 
Tommy,  pocketing  the  half-crown,  and  showing  his  gratitude 
by  giving  this  advice  —  "  he  's  no  harm  much  —  but  weak. 
He  thinks  he  's  at  the  bottom  o'  things  because  he  scores  you 
u;».  ,'?ut  I  bear  him  no  ill-will.  Tommy  Trounsem 's  a  good 
chai :  a.id  any  day  you  like  to  give  me  half-a-erown,  I  '11  tell 
you  i  -i;  .^ame  story  over  again.  Xot  now  ;  1  "m  dry.  Come, 
Iielp  !;ie  up  wi'  these  things  ;  you  "re  a  younger  ch.q;  than  me. 
Well,  I  "11  tell  >S})ilkius  you  "11  come  again  another  day." 

The  moonlight,  which  had  lit  up  poor  Tommy's  oratorical 
attitude,  liad  served  to  light  up  for  Christian  the  [mnt  of  the 
placards.  He  had  expected  the  copies  to  be  various,  and  had 
turned  them  half  over  at  different  de])ths  of  the  sht-af  before 
drawing  out  those  he  offered  to  the  bill-sticker.  Sialdi'uly  the 
clearer  light  had  shown  him  on  one  of  them  a  name  which 
was  just  then  especially  interesting  to  him,  and  all  the  more 
when  occurring  in  a  placard  intended  to  dissuade  the  electors 
of  Xorth  Loamshire  from  voting  for  the  heir  of  the  Trausomes. 
He  hastily  turned  over  the  bills  that  preceded  and  succeeded, 
that  he  miglit  draw  out  and  carry  awa_y  all  of  this  pattcni ; 
for  it  miglit  turn  out  to  be  wiser  for  him  not  to  contribute  to 
the  publicity  of  handbills  which  contained  allusions  to  liycliffe 
versus  Transome.  There  were  about  a  dozen  of  them  ;  he 
pressed  them  together  and  thrust  tlkcm  into  his  ])0rket.  re- 
turning all  tiie  rest  to  Tommy's  basket.  To  take  away  this 
dozen  might  not  be  to  prevent  similar  bills  from  being  posted 
U])  elsewhere,  but  he  had  reason  to  believe  that  tiu'sc  were  all 
of  tlu>  same  kind  which  had  been  sent  to  Ti'dy  fioni  Duffield. 

Christian's  interest  in  Ids  practical  joke  lunl  died  out  like  a 
morning  rushlight.  Apart  from  tins  discovery  in  the  placards, 
old  Tommy's  stoi'v  had  some  indicatidus  in  it  that  were  vs-orth 
pondering  over.  Where  was  that  well-in  fonatul  -Tohnson  now  ? 
Was  he  still  an  understrapper  of  Jei'myn"s  ? 

With  this  matter  in  his  thouglits.  Cliristian  oidy  turned  in 
hastily  at  Quorlf'u's.  tlu-ew  down  the  black  bag  wliicli  con- 
tained the  ca])turf'il  b'adical  handbills,  said  he  had  done  the 
job.  and  hurried  baek  to  the  Manor  that  he  might  study  hio 
oroblem. 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE  RADICAL.  289 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

I  doe  believe  that,  as  the  gall  has  severall  receptacles  in  several  creatures, 
soe  there's  scarce  any  creature  but  hath  that  enuuictorye  souiewhere.  —  8ir 
Thomas  Browne. 

Fancy  what  a  game  at  chess  would  be  if  all  the  chessmen 
had  [)assiuns  and  intellects,  more  or  less  small  ami  cuuninj^ :  if 
you  were  not  only  uncertain  abotit  your  adversary's  men,  but 
a  little  uncertain  also  about  your  own  ;  if  your  kniglit  could 
shuffle  hims(df  on  to  a  new  scj^uare  by  the  sly  ;  if  }  our  bishop, 
in  disgust  at  yoiu"  castling,  could  wheedle  your  pawns  out  of 
their  places;  and  if  your  pawns,  hating  you  because  they  are 
pawns,  could  nudce  away  from  their  appointed  posts  that  you 
might  get  checkmate  on  a  sudilen.  You  miglit  be  the  longest- 
headed  of  deduevive  reasoners,  and  yet  you  might  be  beaten  by 
your  own  pawns.  You  would  be  especially  likely  to  l)e  beaten, 
if  you  de])ended  arrogantly  on  your  mathematical  imagination, 
and  regarded  your  jiassionate  pieces  with  contempt. 

Yet  this  imaginary  chess  is  easy  compared  with  the  game  a 
man  has  to  play  against  his  fellow-mtut  with  other  fellow-men 
for  his  instrumeids.  He  thiidcs  himself  sagacious,  perhaps, 
bi'cause  he  trusts  no  bond  except  that  of  scdl-interest  ;  l)ut  tlie 
oidy  self-interest  he  can  safely  rel}-  on  is  what  seems  to  lie 
such  to  the  mind  he  wt)uldnse  or  g(jvei'n.  Can  he  ever  be  sui-e 
of  knowing  tins  ? 

Matthew  Jermyn  was  under  no  misgivings  as  to  the  b^alty 
of  Johnson.  He  had  "been  the  making  oi'  Johnson;"'  and 
this  seems  to  many  men  a  riason  for  ex]i(  cting  devotion,  in 
ir;])ite  of  tlie  fact  liiaJ  they  tliemsehes.  t.hough  very  fond  of 
their  own  jier.sons  and  lives,  arc  mit  at  all  devoted  io  tiie 
Maker  they  believe  in.  -Tohnson  was  a  most  service:;ble  sul>- 
ordinate.  Ih'ing  a  man  wlioaimed  ;it  resju-claoility.  a  far.iiiy 
man,  who  had  a  good  cimrch-pew.  subscrilxnl  for  engravings 
of  baiKpiet  jiictures  wlicre  there  wei'e  i;(.)rl  i'ail -■■  iA'  in-iitical 
celebrities,  and  wished  his  chi!  ';'l!i  to  oe  more  uuijue- tinnably 
■'^01,.  III.  ly 


290  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL. 

genteel  than  their  father,  he  presented  all  the  more  numerous 
handles  oi  worldly  motive  by  which  a  judicious  superior  miyht 
keep  a  hold  on  him.  But  this  useful  regard  to  respectability 
had  its  inconvenience  in  relation  to  such  a  superior  :  it  was  a 
mark  of  some  vanity  and  some  pri'le,  winch,  if  they  were  not 
touched  just  in  the  right  ]ia!idiiui;--pl;;('e.  were  liable  to  become 
raw  and  sensitive.  Jer:nvn  was  a\vare  of  Johnson's  weak- 
nesses, and  tliought  lie  had  llattered  iln.-m  suilieieiitly.  Bui 
on  the  point  of  knowing  when  we  are  disagreeable,  our  human 
nature  is  fallible.  Our  lavender-water,  our  smiles,  our  com- 
pliments, and  other  polite  falsities,  are  constantly  offensive 
when  in  the  veiy  nature  of  them  they  can  only  be  meant  to 
attract  admiration  and  regard.  Jermyn  had  often  been  un- 
consciously disagreeable  to  Johnson,  over  and  above  the  con- 
stant offence  of  being  a.u  ostentatious  patron,  lie  would 
never  let  _.  ..iiiisou  dine  witii  his  wile  and  daughters  ;  he  would 
not  himself  dine  at  Johnson's  hnuse  when  he  was  in  town, 
]£e  often  did  what  was  cipaivalent  to  pooh-poohing  his  conver- 
sation Ijy  not  even  ap})earing  to  listen,  and  by  suddeidy  cutting 
it  short  with  a  query  on  a  new  subject.  Jerm\'n  was  able;  ami 
])olitie  enough  to  have  commanded  a  great  deal  (d  se.ceess  in 
Ins  life,  but  he  could  not  help  being  li;nidsome,  ari-oeaiit,  J'ond 
of  being  heard,  indisposed  to  any  kind  of  conii-adeship.  amorous 
and  bland  towards  wnmeUj  cold  and  seli'-eentained  toward.-i 
men.  You  will  hear  veiy  Sicmng  denials  1i;at  an  att(irne\-V; 
])eing  liandsonu}  could  entm'  into  tlie  dislii\e  be  exeited  ;  but 
eimversat  ien  consists  a  good  deal  in  the  deni::l  of  what  is  true. 
Fromtlie  Ib'itisb  iioint  of  vie'W  mascnliiie  beauLy  is  regarded 
Very  nnieli  as  it  is  in  the  drapery  business  :  —  as  good  solely 
for  the  biney  de])artmeait  —  lor  youiej'  nolilenien.  artists,  iioets, 
and  tlie  clei-'^-y.  Some  one  wlio.  li!o'  Mr.  Linton,  was  dis- 
jiosed  to  ''.'xiit!  deiaiiyn  (()erliaiis  it  was  Sir  l\biximus),  liad 
called  him  ••a.  cursed,  sleek,  iianilsfmie.  long-winded,  over- 
bearing syco]iba)it  ;  ■"  epithets  wlii(di  (-xjiressed,  ratlier  con- 
fus(-dly,  tlie  miinrlt-d  cliHracter  of  tlie  dislike  he  excited.  And 
serviceable  John  dolmson.  himself  slerk.  and  ndndful  about 
Uis  ])roa(lcloth  aiai  bi-  ea.ndiric  fmnts.  bad  what  hi^  considered 
"spirit'"  enough    witliin    iiim   1o    feel   that   dislike  of  Jermyu 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  291 

gradually  gathering  force  through  years  of  obligation  and 
subjfctidn,  till  it  had  become  an  actuating  motive  disposed  to 
use  an  opportunity,  if  not  to  watch  for  one. 

It  was  not  this  motive,  however,  but  rather  the  ordinary 
course  of  business,  which  accoujited  for  Johnson's  playing  a 
double  part  ;is  an  eloctioneei'iiig  agent.  A\'hat  men  do  in  elec- 
tions is  not  to  be  classed  either  among  sins  or  marks  of  grace  : 
it  v.ould  be  profane  to  include  business  in  religicni,  and  cou- 
sei«'nce  refers  to  failure,  ncrt  to  success.  Still,  the  sense  of 
bfing  galled  by  Jermyn's  harness  was  an  additional  r;^ason 
for  cultivating  all  relations  that  were  inde})endent  of  him; 
and  [)i(jue  at  Harold  Transome's  behavior  to  him  in  Jei-n.iyn's 
otHce  perluips  gave  all  the  inore  zest  to  Johnson's  use  of  his 
pen  and  ink  when  he  wrote  a  handbill  in  the  service  of  Gars- 
tin,  and  (rarstin"s  incoiuparable  agent,  Putty,  full  of  innuen- 
does against  ll;ir(  Id  'I'ransome,  as  a  descemlaut  of  the  Durley- 
Transomes.  It  is  ;■.  natural  subject  of  self-congratulation  to  a 
man,  when  special  k;;;r\vledge,  gained  long  ago  witli'iut  any 
forecast,  tin-iis  out  to  afford  a  special  inspii'ati<_'n  in  tlie  jires- 
ent ;  and  d^iiiison  felt  a  new  })lcasure  in  the  cf)nsc''aisiiess 
tliat  he  of  all  lu'iijilp  ill  ihe  world  next  to  Jermyn  liad  the 
most  iiitimate  kmi\vlede,'e  of  the  'I'l/ansome  affairs.  Still  better 
—  sonic  (if  ili/'Si'  aiTiii's  were  s.^erets  of  .Ti'vnivn's.  If  in  an 
unef)mplimcnta!'v  s])ii'it  he  might  ha\'e  Immt.  called  -Tciauva's 
''j;ian  of  straw."  it  a\  ;e;  a  sati.d'action  i(^  know  tliat  tlic  un- 
reality of  the  luan  d.ijiii  .loliiison  was  cinifincd  to  his  appear- 
ance in  aiHHiity  dccil:^.  a.nd  tlia!:  elsewhere  he  w;";s  solid,, 
locomotive,  and  caj^alde  of  rcmeiaheria':  anytliiiig  I'or  Idis  ov.'ii 
]il''asnre  and  beiie!it.  To  acf  -Aitd  '  ••  .anieness  toward-;  a  man 
wliose  own  coTubict  wa.s  dordil".  w'-  so  nca,r  an  a]ipi'(ra(di  to 
■virtia-  that  it  d.cserved  to  be  called  liy  ;io  meaner  name  tlian 
Diplmnacv. 

r>y  sueli.  causes  it  cam.;'  to  pass  that  Tdiristiati  hehl  in  }i;s 
IkwuIs  a.  iiiil  in  v.-ld(di  dermyii  .a:'  oi;i yfudy  adlud.-d,  lo  as  Mr. 
(ieianan  Co-aai.  who  wou  (:r;,.;^,..^  liy  I'lever  shuilli;e:  an.d  odd 
tricK's  without  any  honor,  and  backed  Durfev's  criii  au-'ainst 
ilyclill'e.  —  in  vddidi  it  was  aiii-"itlv  implied  that  i'i--  -"-.■died 
head  of  tlie   Transomes  was   on,\    the   tail  of  tlu;   Durieys,  — ~ 


292  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL. 

and  that  some  said  tlie  Durfeys  would  have  died  out  and  left 
their  nest  empty  if  it  had  not  been  for  their  German  Cozen. 

Johnson  had  not  dared  to  use  any  recollections  except  such 
as  might  credibly  exist  in  other  minds  besides  his  own.  In 
the  truth  of  the  case,  no  one  but  himself  had  the  prompting 
to  recall  these  outworn  scandals ;  but  it  was  likely  enougli 
that  such  foul-winged  things  should  be  revived  by  election 
heats  for  Johnson  to  escape  all  suspicion. 

Christian  could  gather  only  dim  and  uncertain  inferences 
from  this  flat  irony  and  heavy  joking;  but  one  chief  thing 
was  clear  to  him.  lie  had  been  riglit  in  his  conjecture  that 
Jermyn's  interest  about  Bycliffe  had  its  source  in  some  claim 
of  Byclifte"s  on  the  I'ransome  property.  And  tlicn,  there  was 
that  story  of  the  old  Ijill-sticker's,  whieh.  closely  <-oiisiil('rrd. 
indicated  that  the  right  of  the  })resent  'i'rausomes  dejicnileu, 
or  at  least  had  depeudeil,  on  the  coiitinuancs'  of  some  other 
lives.  Christian  in  his  time  had  gathered  enough  legal 
notions  to  be  aware  that  possession  l)y  one  man  sometimes 
depended  on  the  life  of  another  ;  tliat  a  man  might  sell  his 
own  interest  in  property,  and  tlie  interest  -of  his  descendants, 
while  a  claim  on  that  property  Avould  still  remain  to  some  one 
else  than  the  })urchaser,  supposing  the  dt_'Scendants  beca;;;e 
<'xtinct,  and  the  interest  they  had  sold  Vv-ere  at  an  (-nd.  I'ut 
mider  what  conditi(;us  the  claim  might  lie  valid  or  V(iiil  in  any 
particular  case,  was  all  darknrss  t"  him.  Suppose  r>y(dii're 
had  any  such  (daim  on  tiic  Traiis(;me  estates  :  how  was  Cl;ris- 
tian  to  know  whether  at  the  jiresent  moment  it  was  wiaili 
anything  moi'e  than  a  l>it  of  I'otten  ]>archm(mt  ?  ( )]d  'J'ojiiiny 
Troiiiisejii  had  said  tliat  Johnson  kncAv  all  about  it.  l>ut  vvi  n 
if  Johnson  were  still  above  ground  —  and  all  Johnsons  are 
mortal  —  he  might  still  l)e  an  undri'sti'a])i)er  of  Jermyn's.  in 
which  case  his  kiiov/ledge  wfndd  be  on  the  wrong  side  of  the 
hedge  for  tlie  ]iU!'jios--s  of  Henry  Seaddon.  His  iminediate 
care  must  be  to  find  ont  all  he  cnuld  about  Johnson.  He 
blamed  himself  for  not  having  ([ue-tioned  'I'ommy  further 
while  he  had  him  at  coniman*!  ;  but  on  this  head  the  bill- 
sticker  could  hardly  know  more  than  the  less  dilapidated 
denizens  of  Treby. 


FELIX    HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  293 

Now  it  had  happened  that  during  tlie  weeks  in  whicli 
Christian  had  been  at  work  in  trying  to  solve  the  enigma  of 
Jerniyn's  interest  about  Bycliffe,  Johnson's  mind  also  had 
been  somewhat  occupied  witli  suspicion  and  conjecture  as  to 
new  information  on  the  subject  of  the  old  Bycliffe  claims 
wliich  Jt'rmiyn  intended  to  (■(meeal  from  him.  The  letter 
wliicli,  after  his  interviev*-  witli  Christian,  Jermyn  luid  written 
with  a  sense  of  perfect  safety  to  his  faitliful  ally  Johnson, 
was,  as  we  know,  written  to  a  Jolinson  who  had  found  his 
self-love  incompatible  with  tliat  faitlifvdness  of  which  it  was 
supposed  tu  be  the  foundation.  Anything  that  the  patron  felt 
it  inconvenient  for  liis  obliged  friend  and  servant  to  know, 
became  by  that  very  fact  an  oliject  of  [leculiar  curiosity.  The 
obliged  friend  and  servant  secretly  doalcd  on  his  ])atron's  in- 
convenience, })rovided  that  lie  himself  did  not  share  it;  and 
conjecture  naturally  Ix'came  active. 

Johnson's  legal  imagination,  being  very  differently  furnished 
from  Christian's,  was  at  no  loss  to  conceive  conditions  under 
which  tliLTO  migiit  arise  a  new  claim  on  the  Transome  estates. 
lit'  hadbeffjrc  him  Hie  whole  history  of  the  setthunent  of  those 
estates  niadr  a  hundifd  yeiirs  ago  by  flolin  Justus  Transome, 
entailing  thi'in,  whilst  in  his  possession,  on  his  son  Thomas 
and  his  lifirs-iaale,  with  remainder  to  the  I5ycliffes  in  fi'e.  [Ic 
knew  tli:it  Thomas,  son  of  Jolin  .lustus.  pi'ovinga  ])roiligad.  had, 
without  the  knowledge  of  his  fe.ther.  tlie  i^nant  in  jiossession. 
sold  his  own  and  his  (h'sc('nd;ints'  rights  to  a  lawyer-cousiii 
named  j)iii'l;'y;  that,  therrfoi'(\  ihc  titL:  of  the  ])urley-''J'nin- 
somrs.  in  spiic  of  that  old  Durl't-y's  tricks  to  show  the  contrarv, 
dependeil  soh'ly  on  the  purelias-'  nf  ;he  ••base  fee'"  thus  created 
by  Tliiunas  Transome:  and  that  the  I'>yi'lift'es  were  the  '•  re- 
maiiuliT-nn'ii  "'  who  might  fairly  oust  the  Durl'ev-Transomes 
if  evrf  the  issuf  ef  tlie  ] if(uli;_;;il  'I'liomas  went  clt\in  out  of 
existence,  and  ceased  to  rcpreseiu  a  nuht  which  he  had  har- 
gaiiied  away  I'l'om   theni. 

Johnson,  as  Jeianyn's  suboi'diiiate.  had  been  closely  I'O'^iii/' mt 
of  the  dietails  conccnnng  the  suit  instituted  by  succes  ive 
Byeliff(>s.  (d'  wlumi  Maurice  Chri~-tian  l'>v(diffe  vas  ihc  ;  ,,>t, 
on  the  plea  that  the  extinction  of  Thomas  Transome's  line  had 


29-i  FELIX   HOLT,    'JIIE   11AJ)1CAL. 

actually  come  to  pass  —  a  weary  suit,  wliich  had  eaten  into 
the  fortunus  of  two  families,  and  had  only  made  the  canker- 
worms  fat.  The  suit  had  closed  Avith  the  death  of  Maurice 
Christian  IJycliff'e  in  person ;  but  before  his  death,  Jermyn's 
exertions  t(j  get  evidence  that  there  was  still  issue  of  Thomas 
Transr)ine\s  lino  surviving,  as  a  st-furity  of  tin,'  Durfey  title, 
lia'l  issued  in  the  discovery  of  a  Thomas  Transome  at  f.ittle- 
shaw,  in  Stonyshire,  wIkj  was  the  representative;  of  a  p.awned 
inheritance.  The  death  of  ^Maurice  had  uv.ide  this  discovery 
useless  —  had  made  it  seem  the  Vv^iser  part  to  say  nothing 
about  it ;  and  the  fact  had  remained  a  secret  known  only  to 
Jermyn  and  Johnson.  Xo  otlun'  ISyclilfe  was  known  oi-  be- 
lieved to  exist,  and  tin;  Duriey-Transomes  might  be  consi^lercd 
safe,  uidess  —  yes,  thci-e  wa.s  an  '•unless '^  v/liich  Johnson  could 
conceive:  an  heir  or  heiress  of  the  ]3ycliffes  —  if  such  a  [)er- 
sonage  turned  out  to  I'C  in  existence  —  might  some  time  raise 
a  new  and  valid  claim  Vv'hen  once  informed  that  wretched  old 
Tommy  Trounsi^m  the  bill-sticker,  tottering  drunkcjily  on  the 
edge  of  the  grave,  w;;s  the  hist  issue  remaining  alxjve  ground 
fi'om  that  dissolute  'i'h(;mas  vlio  jdayedhis  Msau  part  a  cent  ury 
before,  ^y]n]<^  the  ])oor  old  bill-sticker  ],reatlicd,  the  ]);!i-rey- 
Transomes  coidd  legally  kec})  their  posscssifju  in  spite  oT  a 
])oss:ble  JU'cliffe  proved  real;  l)ut  not  when  tic  jiarish  iiad 
buried  the  bi!]-sti<'];er. 

Still,  it  is  one  thin';'  to  conceive  conditions,  and  ajiojherto 
see  any  chance  oC  ])i'ovi!ig  t  lieir  existence.  Johnson  a1  jiresent 
liad  no  glimpse  of  such  a  cliance  ;  and  even  if  lie  ever  g.iined 
llie  glinijise,  he  was  not  sui'c  ^liat  he  should  eve]'  ma.ke  any  use 
of  it.  His  inrniiries  of  T^Iedv/in,  in  obedience  to  .lennyn's 
letter,  h'ld  extracted  only  a  nr'gative  as  to  any  ini'orniation 
]»ossessed  ])y  the  l;iv.-ve;\s  f)f  ]>y(difTe  e,,ne'"'nin'^^  a  marri;;ge.  or 
ex])ectation  of  offspriii-j  on  his  ]f::v^ .  I'.iit  dcdiiison  I'elt  not 
the  less  stnii"-  li\-  c!;ri(,sit  \'  ;o  l::io'.v  \v:.:'',:  dei'inyn  had  fonnd 
out:  that  he  ]i;ii|  ffjiunl  something  in  I'ehi'ion  to  a  ])OSsiblc 
]\\-(difTe,  Jdlinson  fidt  pi'etty  siii'e.  And  hi'  thou'-dit  with  sat- 
isfa,ction  that  .Term\-n  cfadd  not  hinder  Idni  froni  hnoAving 
■\\d:'f  he  already  hn-v.-  abn^t  'I'hr)ma-.  'l'i':'n-ome"s  issue,  ^b'lny 
things  might  oc(;ur  to  altei'  liis   [lolicy  and  give  a  new  value 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  295 

to  facts.  Was  it  certain  that  Jeriuyu  ■would  always  l)e 
fortuiiatu  ? 

When  greed  and  unscrupulousness  exhibit  themselves  on  a 
grand  historical  scale,  and  there  is  question  of  peace  or  war  or 
aiuic;d)lo  pnrtition.  it  oft(Mi  occurs  that  gentlemen  of  high  dijjlo- 
matic  talents  have  their  minds  bent  on  the  same  object  from 
dillV'rent  poiut.s  of  view,  luich,  pt'rha[)S,  is  thinking  of  a  cer- 
tain diieliy  or  province,  with  a  vi(^w  to  arranging  the  ownership 
m  such  a  way  as  shall  best  serve  the  purposes  of  tlio  gentleman 
witli  liigh  diplomatic  talents  in  wlioni  each  is  more  es})ecially 
interested.  But  these  select  minds  in  high  office  can  never 
miss  their  aims  from  ignorance  of  each  other's  existence  or 
whereabouts.  Their  high  titles  may  be  learned  even  by  com- 
mon people  from  every  pocket  almanac. 

But  with  meaner  diplomatists.  Avho  might  be  mutually  use- 
ful, such  ignorance  is  often  obstiuctive.  Mr.  John  Johnson 
and  ]\Ir.  Christian,  otherwise  Henry  Scaddon,  might  have  had 
a  concentriition  of  jiurpose  and  an  ingenuity  of  device  lifting 
them  to  mak(^  a  figure  in  the  parcelling  of  Europe,  and  j'et 
they  nnght  never  have  met,  sim]dy  becausi;  Johnson  knew 
notliing  ol'  Christian,  and  because  Christian  did  not  know 
where  to  iiud  Johnsou. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Hi?  Tiatiiro  is  too  nolili-  for  tho  world  : 

Hr  \voul(l  net  llaticr  N'l'i'i  iiiic  for  his  tridotit, 

Or  .In\('  foi-  his  ]i()\\fr  i^  ■  I  hiiiioiT.      Hi-  heart 's  Ills  month : 

What  liis  lircast  foi-_:i---,  that  hi>  toiij^iic  must  vent; 

Aiu],  beiiiL'' .''.iiirrw  dotli  fcrLi-i-l  thai  ever 

Ilf  heard  the  iiaiiie  ol'  draili. —  Con'olaiius. 

OniiTSTiAx  and  Johnson  ilid  ukm  t  however,  by  means  that 
T\'ere  qtiitf^  incalculable.  'I'lic  iiiciiicnt  which  broui^dit-  them 
into  coiumuiucation  was  due  t<i  !'"o]ix  Holt,  who  of  all  num   in 


596  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

the  world  liad  the  least  affinity  either  for  the  industrious  or 
the  idle  parasite. 

Mr.  Lyon  luid  urged  Felix  to  go  to  Duifield  on  the  15th  of 
Decenil)er,  to  witness  the  nomination  of  tlie  candidates  for 
Xorth  Loamshire.  The  minister  wislied  to  hear  wliat  took 
•ilace  ;  and  tlie  pleasure  of  gratifying  him  helped  to  outweigh 
some  op})o,sing  I'casoits. 

"1  shall  get  into  a  rage  at  something  (n- other/'  Eelix  had 
said.  '•  1  "ve  told  you  one.  oi  my  weak  points.  Where  I  have 
a.'iy  partir.ular  business,  I  must  incur  the  risks  my  nature 
1. rings.  ]>ut  I  "ve  no  particular  business  at  Duliield.  How- 
ever, I'll  make  a  holiday  and  go.  By  dint  of  seeing  folly,  I 
shall  get  lessons  in  patience. 

The  weak  point  to  which  Felix  referred  was  his  liability  to 
be  carried  com})letely  out  of  his  own  mastery  by  indignant 
anger.  His  strong  health,  his  renunciation  of  selfish  claims, 
his  habitual  preoccupation  with  large  tlioughts  and  with  pur- 
poses independent  of  every-day  casualties,  secured  him  a  fine 
and  even  tem})er,  free  from  moodiness  or  irritability.  He  was 
full  of  long-suffering  towards  his  unwise  motluu',  who  "pressed 
lii'.u  daily  with  her  words  and  urged  him,  so  that  his  soul  was 
vexed;"  JH'  had  chosen  to  fill  his  days  in  a  way  that  required 
the  utmost  exci'tion  of  ])atience.  that  required  those  little  rill- 
l)k(!  outflowings  of  goodness  which  in  minds  oi'  gri'at  energy 
must  be  fed  From  deep  sources  of  thought  and  ])asslonafe 
devotedness.  In  this  way  his  energies  served  lo  mrdce  liim 
genth;  ;  and  iiow,  in  this  twenty-sixth  3'e;ii'  of  his  lii'e,  they 
Iiad  ceased  to  make  him  iingry,  except  in  the  ])re'Senc(!  t;:  some- 
tliiiig  that  roused  his  deep  indign:itit)n.  When  onee  exas|;er- 
ated,  the  passionateness  of  his  natur(>  threw  olT  the  yok'' ol' a 
h)tig-trained  (■oiiseiousness  in  whieh  thought  and  emotion  had 
been  iiioi-e  and  nim-e  {•(ini])letely  mingleil.  and  (M)n(.'entrate(]  it- 
self in  a,  iMge  as  ungovernable  as  that  of  boyhood.  He  was 
thoroughly  aware  of  lhe  liability,  and  knew  that  in  such  eir- 
cune-.taiices  he  eoiild  not  answer  for  himself.  Sensitix'e  peojild 
with  feeljle  fi'aaiies  have  often  the  same  sort  of  fury  within 
them  ;  Ijnt  they  are  themselves  shatteiM'd,  and  shatter  nothing. 
i''elix  had  a  terrible  arm;   lie  kn(;w  that  he  was  dangerous;  and 


FELIX    HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  297 

he  avoided  the  conditions  that  might  cause  him  exasperation, 

as  he  would  have  avoided  intoxicating  drinks  if  lie  had  been 
in  danger  of  intemperance. 

The  noniiuation-day  was  a  great  epoch  of  successfvd  trickeiy, 
or,  to  speak  in  ;i  more  parliamentary  manner,  of  war-stratagem, 
on  the  }iart  of  skilful  agents.  And  Mr.  Johnson  had  his 
share  of  inward  chuckling  and  stdf-approval,  as  one  who  might 
justly  expect  increasing  renown,  and  be  some  day  in  as  gen- 
eral recpujst  as  the  great  Putty  himself.  To  have  the  pleasure 
and  the  praise  of  electioneering  ingenuity,  and  also  to  get  paid 
for  it,  without  too  much  anxiety  whether  the  ingenuity  will 
achieve  its  ultimate  end,  perhaps  gives  to  some  select  persons 
a  sort  of  satisfaction  in  their  superiority  to  their  more  agitated 
fellow-men  that  is  worthy  to  be  classed  with  those  generous 
enjoyments  of  having  the  truth  chiefly  to  yourself,  and  of  see- 
ing others  in  danger  of  drowning  while  you  are  high  and  dry, 
wduch  seem  to  have  been  regarded  as  unmixed  privileges  by 
Lucretius  and  Lord  Ikicon, 

One  of  Mr.  Jolnison's  great  successes  was  this.  Spratt,  the 
hated  manager  of  the  Sproxton  Colliery,  in  careless  confi- 
dence that  the  colliers  and  other  laborers  nnder  him  would 
follow  his  orders,  had  jn'ovidcd  carts  to  carry  some  loads 
of  voteless  enthusiasm  to  DuUicld  on  behalf  of  Garstin ; 
enthusiasm  which,  being  ah'(>ady  paid  for  b}'  the  recognized 
benefit  nf  (larstin's  existence  as  a  capitalist  with  a  share  in 
the  Spi'oxton  mines,  was  not  to  cost  mucli  in  the  form  of 
treating.  A  ('apitalist  was  held  woi-thy  of  ])ious  honor  as  the 
cause  why  Avoi'king  mon  existf^l.  lint  ^Fr.  Sjiratt  did  not 
suiHciently  consider  that  a  caus(>  which  has  to  l)e  ])roved  by 
.argument  or  testimony  is  not  an  object  of  ])assionate  devotion 
to  colliers:  a  visible  cause  of  lieer  nets  on  tliem  nmch  more 
strongly.  And  even  if  tliere  had  been  any  love  of  the  far-olT 
(iarstin,  hatred  of  the  too-imn;edi;;te  Sj)ratt  would  have  bjeen 
tilt'  stronger  motive.  Hence  -Tohnson's  ealculatious.  made  long 
ago  with  Chubb,  the  remarkabh'  jiuldiean,  had  been  wr'A 
fVauuled,  and  there  liad  been  (lilig«  :;!  care  to  stipj^ly  treaiin:: 
at  Dutlield  in  the  name  of  Transf^ii;  After  the  election  \^-:\-] 
OVCT.  it  was  not  improbable  that  there  would  be  much  friendly 


298  FELIX    HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

joking  between  Putty  and  Jijlmsou  ;is  to  the  success  of  this 
trick  against  Putty's  employer,  and  Jolmson  would  be  con- 
scious of  rising  in  the  opinion  of  his  celebrated  senior. 

For  the  show  of  hands  and  the  checrnig.  the  hustling  and  the 
pelting,  the  roaring  and  the  hissing,  the  liard  hits  with  small 
missiles,  and  the  soft  lilts  with  small  jokes,  were  strong  enough^ 
on  the  side  of  Transome  to  Ijalance  the  similar  "  demonstra- 
tions "■  for  Garstin,  (>ven  with  the  Debarry  interest  in  his  favor. 
xVnd  the  inconvenient  prt'sence  of  Spratt  was  early  got  rid  of  by 
a  dexterously  managed  accident,  which  sent  him  bruisod  and 
limping  from  the  scene  of  action.  Mr.  Chubb  had  ncn'er  before 
felt  so  thoroughly  that  tho  occasion  was  up  to  a  lev(d  with  his  tal- 
ents, whih;  tlie  clear  daylight  in  whicli  his  virtue  would  appear 
•vhen  at  the  election  he  voted,  as  his  duty  to  himself  bound  him, 
'or  Garstin  only,  gav(^  him  thorough  reiwse  of  conscience. 

Felix  Holt  was  the  only  ])orson  looki]ig  on  at  the  senseless 
exhibitions  of  this  noniinntion-day,  who  kaiew  fi'om  the  begin- 
jj.]ig  the  history  of  1:h(^  1,rick  with  the  S]iroxton  men.  He  liad 
';:>een  aware  all  along  that  the  treating  at  Gliubb's  had  been 
.■continued,  and  that  so  fai-  TTarold  Transome's  ]»roniise  had 
produced  no  good  fi'uits  ;  and  what  he  was  (^b^'crving  to-day. 
as  lie  watcheil  the  uproarious  ci'owd,  convinct d  him  that  tlu^ 
whoh^  schenn'  would  be  carried  out  just  as  if  he  had  mn'er 
spoken  about  it.  TTc  could  be  fair  enf)Ugh  to  Ti'an;-imi(^  to 
allow  that  he  might  ha\'(>  wished,  and  yet  have  been  unable, 
witli  Ills  notions  of  success,  (,o  ke(Mi  his  ju'omise;  and  his  bit- 
ter.'ii'ss  towards  tbe  candidate  only  took  the  form  of  contempt- 
U(Mis  pity  ;  for  f'elix  was  not  sparing  in  his  contempt  foi'  men 
who  ]iiit  tlieii'  inwaid  lionoi'  in  ])awn  l»y  seeking  the  |)i'i/.es  of 
the  \\'oi']d.  jriss('or!i  fell  loo  readily  on  tlie  loi't  iii);!t(>.  Put 
when  lie  saw  -loliiisoii  passiiiL^-  to  and  tro,  and  s]ie:u^iiig  to  Jei'- 
myn  on  t1ie  hustings,  he  fi-H  iiimseH'  gelt  ing  angi'v.  and  jum]ied 
off  the  V,  heel  of  ijie  si  at  ;e,iia  I'y  carl  on  wliicli  lie  was  mounted, 
that  he  niiu'lit,  no  longer  1k'  in  siL,dit  o(  iliis  juan,  wdios(^  vitiat- 
ing cant  had  made  his  l)h)od  iiot,  and  liis  lingers  ting]<"  on  the 
iirst  dav  oi'  euceuut  i-riiig  liiiu  a!  Sproxton.  It  A\-as  a  little  too 
exaspei'st  iuL;  lo  look  ;it  this  junk-i ac''(l  I'olund  sp("cin!en  of 
'.irosoerii.v,  to  witaics.s  li;  ■  power  for  uvil  that  lav  in   Ids  \  ulnar 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  299 

cant,  backed  by  another  man's  money,  and  to  know  that  such 
stupid  initj^uity  flourislied  the  flags  of  Keform,  and  Liberalism, 
and  justice  to  the  needy.  While  tlie  roaring  and  the  scuffling 
were  still  going  on,  Felix,  with  his  thick  stick  in  his  hand, 
made  liis  way  through  the  crowd,  and  walked  on  through  the 
Dutlield  streets,  till  he  canii'  out  on  a  grassy  suburb,  where  the 
liouses  surrounded  a,  small  common.  Here  he  walked  about 
in  the  breezy  air,  and  .'de  his  bread  and  a})ples,  telling  himself 
that  this  angry  haste  of  his  about  evils  that  could  only  be 
remedied  slowly,  could  be  nothing  else  than  obstructive,  and 
might  some  day  —  he  saw  it  so  clearly  that  the  thought  seemed 
like  a  presentiment  —  be  obstructive  of  his  own  work. 

"Not  to  waste  mergy,  to  apply  force  where  it  would  tell, 
to  do  small  work  close  at  hand,  not  waiting  for  specula tivo 
chances  of  heroism,  but  preparing  for  them" — these  were  the 
rules  he  had  been  constantly  urging  on  himself.  But  what 
could  be  a  greater  waste  than  to  beat  a  scoundrel  who  had  law 
and  opodeldoc  at  command  ?  After  this  meditation,  Felix  felt 
cool  and  wise  enough  to  return  into  the  town,  not,  however, 
intending  to  dony  lumself  the  satisfaction  of  a  few  pungent 
words  wherevtn-  tliere  was  place  for  them.  ]->lows  are  sar- 
casms turned  stu})i(l :  wit  is  a  form  of  force  that  leaves  the 
limbs  at  rest. 

Anything  tliat  could  be  (\alled  ;i  crowd  was  no  long(^r  to  b-e 
seen.  The  show  of  hands  iiaving  been  pronounced  to  be  in 
favor  of  l)ebarr3'  and  'i'ra.nsonie,  and  a  juill  having  been  de- 
juanded  for  (iarstin,  the  l)usiness  of  the  day  might  be  consid- 
ered at  an  end.  I5ut  in  the  street  whei-e  tlie  hustings  W(>r{> 
erected,  and  wlierti  the  great  hotels  stood,  there  were  many 
groups,  as  wi>]l  as  strollers  and  steady  Avalbevs  to  and  fro. 
Alen  in  superior  great-coats  and  v/ell-i)rus!ied  liats  wei'c  av/ait- 
ing  with  more  or  less  inqia;  ii-ner  an  inipoi'tant  diinnT.  either 
at  the  Crown,  which  was  Debarry's  house,  or  at  tlie  Three 
Cranes,  whieli  \vas  (birstin's.  er  :i<.  ;lie  i''ox  and  iromids.  whi'di 
was  Transome's.  Knots  of  soher  retailers,  who  had  alre.vdy 
dined,  were  to  be  seen  at  smne  slido-doors  ;  men  in  vn-v  sli;  bliv 
coals  and  miseellanenus  lieadi-cux-rrings.  inhal)ita;i1  s  of  Itataidd 
and  not  county  voters,  vv^ere  lounging  about  in  dull  sdence_  ;>;■• 


300  FEi.lX   flOI.T,   THE   RADICAL. 

listening,  some  to  a  gi'imy  man  in  a  flannel  shirt,  hatless  and 
with  tnrbid  red  hair,  who  was  insisting  on  political  points  with 
mnch  more  ease  than  had  seemed  to  belong  to  the  gentlemen 
speakers  on  the  hustings,  and  others  to  a  Scotch  vendor  of 
articles  useful  to  sell,  whose  unfamiliar  accent  seemed  to  have 
a  guarantee  of  truth  in  it  wanting  as  an  association  with  every- 
day English.  Some  rough-looking  pipe-snujkers,  or  distin- 
guished cigar-smokers,  chose  to  walk  up  and  down  in  isolation 
and  silence.  But  the  majority  of  those  wdio  had  shown  a  burn- 
ing interest  in  the  nomination  had  disappeared,  and  cockades 
no  longer  studded  a  close-jiressed  crowd,  like,  and  also  very 
unlike,  meadow  flowers  among  the  grass.  The  street  pavement 
was  strangely  ])ainted  with  fragiucuts  of  pcu'ishahle  missiles 
grcnnid  flat  under  lieavy  i'eet :  but  the  workers  were  resting 
from  their  tdil.  and  the  buzz  and  tread  and  the  fitfully  dis- 
(M'l'uible  voices  seemed  like  stillness  to  Felix  after  the  roar 
Avith  Avhich  the  wide  space  had  been  filled  wlien  he  left  it. 

The  grou}>  round  the  speaker  in  the  flannel  shirt  stood  at 
the  corner  of  a  side-street,  and  the  speaker  himself  was  ele- 
vated by  the  head  and  shoulders  above  his  hearers,  not  because 
h(^  was  tall,  but  because  he  stood  on  a  projecting  stone.  At 
the  opposite  corner  of  the  turning  was  the  great  inn  of  the 
Vox  and  Hounds,  and  this  was  the  ultra-Liberal  quarter  of  the 
Higii  Sti't-et.  Felix  was  at  once  attracted  by  this  groiij) ;  he  liked 
tlif  look  of  tlie  s])eaker,  whose  hnre  arms  wei'e  ])owerfully 
nuiscular.  tiio'.i'j,-]!  lie  had  the  pallid  complexion  of  a  man  who 
livi^s  (diictly  amidst  the  heat  of  funiaces.  1  fc  Avas  leaning 
a;;'aiiist.  the  dari<  stone  building  bcliind  liim  willi  I'oided  arms, 
till'  '^riim"  ])al('iiess  of  his  shirt  and  skin  slanding  out  in  high 
relifM  ;iL!;:iinst  iho  il;irk  stone  building  behind  liim.  Ife  lifted 
up  oni'  Cori'-rmger.  and  mark»Ml  his  em)>hasis  witli  it  as  he 
S])oke.  ilis  voice  was  high  and  not:  sf;roiig,  Init  l*\dix  i-eeog- 
nized  llie  Ibii'iicy  and  the  method  of  a  liabitual  ju'eaclier  or 
lectur(>r. 

'•'It's  the  fallacy  of  all  monopolists."  he  was  saying.  "  Wi^ 
know  what  iiumopMlists  are  :  men  avIio  want  to  kee])  a  trade 
a,Il  to  theiiistdves.  iMuler  (lie  ])re(ciier  l|i;i.1  they'll  rurnish  the 
public  with  a   better   article.       We  know  what  that  comes  to  : 


FELIX    HOLT,   THE    RADICAL.  301 

ill  some  countries  a  poor  man  can't  afford  to  buy  a  spoonful 

of  salt,  and  _v(^t  there  "s  salt  enough  in  the  world  to  pickle 
every  livinij  tliiu*,'  in  it.  That 's  the  sort  of  benefit  monopo- 
lists do  to  mankind.  And  these  are  the  men  who  tell  us 
we 're  to  let  politK^s  alone;  they'll  govern  us  better  without 
our  knowing  anything  about  it.  We  must  mind  our  business  ; 
we  are  ignorant ;  we  've  no  time  to  studj'  great  questions. 
But  I  tell  them  this :  the  greatest  question  in  the  world 
is,  how  to  give  every  man  a  man's  share  in  what  goes  on  in 
life—" 

''Hear,  hear!"  said  Felix  in  his  sonorous  voice,  which 
seemed  to  give  a  new  impressiveness  to  what  the  speaker  had 
said.  Every  one  looked  at  him  :  the  Avell-washed  face  and  its 
educated  expression  along  with  a  dress  more  careless  than  that 
of  most  well-to-do  workmen  on  a  holiday,  made  his  appearance 
strangely  arresting. 

"Not  a  pig's  share."  the  s])eaker  went  on,  "not  a  horse's 
share,  not  llic  share  of  a  macliine  fed  with  oil  only  to  make  it 
work  and  luithiiig  tdse.  It  is  n"t  a  man's  share  just  to  mind 
your  pin-making,  or  yimr  glass-blowing,  and  higgle  about  your 
own  wages,  ami  hi'iiig  u])  your  family  to  be  ignorant  sons  of 
ignorant  ['atlitu's,  and  no  bettei-  prospect ;  that 's  a  slave's  share  ; 
we  want  a  freeman's  shai'(\  and  that  is  to  thiidv  and  sjieak  and 
act  about  what  eoneeiais  us  all.  and  see  whether  these  fine 
gentlemen  who  undertake  to  govern  us  are  doing  the  best 
tliey  can  I'or  us.  They  "ve  got  the  knowledge,  say  they.  Very 
well,  we've  got  the  wants.  TIkm'c 's  many  a  one  wcnild  be 
idle  if  hunge,'  didn't  ]Hneh  liiiii  ;  but  the  stomach  sets  us  to 
work.  There  's  a.  fabl(>  told  wliei'c  the  noliles  are  ihe  belly  and 
the  people  (lie  members.  I!ut  I  make  another  sort  of  fable.  I 
say  we  are  the  belly  that  feels  the  piuehes.  and  we'll  set  these 
anstoerats.  tliese  great  ]>eople  whn  enll  llnMiiselves  o.ir  brains, 
to  work  at  some  way  of  satisfying  u;;  a  hit  bett(U'.  The  aristo- 
crats a.r(>  pri'tty  sure  to  try  and  gcveiai  b.r  their  own  benetif  ; 
but  how  are  we  to  be  sure  tlie\  "11  try  and  govern  for  ours  V 
They  must  be  looked  after.  T  t liiidx.  like  other  workmen.  We 
must  have  what  we  call  inspi^'ti  a's.  to  see  whether  the  work's 
well  dene  for  us.     We  want  to     end  our  inspectors  lu  Parlia- 


302  FELIX    HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

ment.  Well,  they  say — you've  got  the  Eeform  Bill;  what 
more  can  you  want  ?  Send  your  inspectors.  But  I  say,  the 
Eeform  Bill  is  a  trick  —  it's  nothing  but  swearing-in  special 
constables  to  keep  the  aristocrats  s;ii'e  in  their  monopoly;  it's 
bribing  some  of  the  people  witli  votes  to  make  them  hold  their 
tongues  about  giving  votes  to  the  rest.  1  say,  if  a  man  does  n't 
beg  or  steal,  but  works  for  his  bread,  the  jioorer  and  the  more 
miserable  he  is,  the  more  he  "d  need  li;i  ve  a  vote  to  send  an  in- 
spector to  Parliament  —  else  the  man  who  is  worst  off  is  likely 
to  be  forgotten ;  and  I  say,  he  's  the  man  wlio  ought  to  be  llvst 
remembered.  Else  wiiat  does  tlitir  religion  mean  ?  AVhy  do 
they  build  churches  and  endow  them  that  their  sons  may  get 
paid  well  for  preaching  a  Saviour,  and  making  tlicmselves  as 
little  like  llim  as  can  be  ?  If  I  want  U)  believe  in  Jesus 
Christ,  I  must  shut  my  eyes  for  fear  I  sliould  see  a  parson. 
Anxl  what's  a  bishop?  A  l)ishop's  a  j)arson  dressed  up,  who 
sits  in  the  House  of  Lords  to  lu^lp  and  throw  out  Beform  Bills. 
And  because  it's  hard  to  get  anything  in  the  shape  of  a  man 
to  dress  himself  up  like  that,  and  do  such  work,  they  give  him 
a  palace  for  it,  and  jdenty  of  thousands  a-year.  And  then 
they  cry  out  —  'The  Church  is  in  danger,' — 'the  poor  man's 
Church.'  And  why  is  it  the  poor  n\an's  Church  ?  I'.eeanse 
he  can  have  a  seat  for  noiliing.  1  tldnk  it  is  for  nothing;  for 
it  would  be  hard  to  tell  wliat  lie  gets  l)v  it.  II'  the  poor  man 
had  a  voti.'  in  the  mal.ter,  1  tldnk  I'c  "d  e]io()S(^  a  ilii'ferent  sort 
of  II  Church  to  wliat  that  is.  Ihit  do  you  tliiiih  tli"  aristocrats 
will  (!vcr  alter  it,  if  tlu;  bclU'  docs  n't  jiincli  th.cm  '/  Not  th(\y. 
It 's  ])art  of  their  moiiDjioly.  Tlu^y '11  sujqily  \is  with  our  re- 
ligion like  everything  else,  and  iret  a  i^rolit  on  it.  'I'hcv  'I!  u'ive 
us  plenty  of  lieaven.  We  m;iy  have  land  iln'ro.  That's  the 
sort  of  ri'ligion  they  like  —  a  I'cligion  that  gi\'(\s  us  working 
men  heaven,  and  nothing  el:-(\  ]'>ut  W(^  '11  offer  to  cliange  witli 
'em.  We'll  give  them  b:icl<  some  of  their  lieaven.  and  take  it 
out  in  som(>thing  for  us  and  our  cliihii'cn  in  this  world.  They 
don't  seem  to  care  so  much  about  Icavcii  themselves  till  they 
feel  the  gout  very  bad  ;  but  y<>u  vou't  get  them  to  give  up  aTiv- 
thing  else,  if  y<iu  don"t,  jiineli  'v\\\  fur  it.  And  to  pinch  them 
enough,  we  must  get  tlie  suiTrage,  we  must  get  votes,  that  wo 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  803 

may  send  the  men  to  Parliament  wlio  Avill  do  our  work  for  us; 
and  we  must  have  Parliament  dissolved  every  year,  that  we 
may  change  our  man  if  he  does  n't  do  what  Ave  want  him  to 
do  ;  and  we  must  have  the  country  divided  so  that  the  little 
kings  of  the  counties  can't  do  as  they  like,  but  must  be  shaken 
up  in  one  bag  with  us.  I  say,  if  we  Avorking  men  are  ever  to 
get  a  man's  share,  we  must  have  universal  suffrage,  and  annual 
Parliaments,  and  the  vote  by  ballot,  and  electoral  districts." 

*•' Ko  !  —  soiuetliing  else  before  all  that,"  said  Felix,  again 
startling  the  audience  into  looking  at  him.  But  the  speaker 
glanced  coldly  at  liim  and  went  on. 

'•  That 's  what  Sir  Francis  Burdett  went  in  for  fifteen  years 
ago  ;  and  it 's  the  right  thing  for  us,  if  it  was  Tomfool  who 
went  in  for  it.  You  nuist  lay  hold  of  such  handles  as  you  can. 
1  don't  believe  much  in  liberal  aristocrats  ;  but  if  there  "s  any 
fine  carved  guld-headed  stick  of  an  aristocrat  will  make  a  broom- 
stick of  himscdf,  I'll  lose  no  time  but  I '11  sweep  with  him. 
And  that  "s  what  I  thiidi  about  Transomc.  And  if  any  of  you 
have  acquaiutancc  among  county  voters,  give  'em  a  hint  that 
yf)U  wish  'till  to  vote  for  Transonic.'' 

At  tlic  lasl  word,  the  sDcaker  stepped  down  from  ];is  sliglit 
eminriM^e.  and  walked  a,\\;ty  ra])idly,  like  a  man  wliosc  lidsure 
was  exluiusted.  and  who  must  go  about  liis  business.  P>ut  he 
had  left  an  a[i])f'tit''  in  Ids  audiencf-  I'or  i'urther  oratory,  and 
one  of  Vaora  se(uu"(l  to  expi'css  a  gcueral  sciitiiiuMit  as  lie  turned 
imnifdialely  to  I'elix,  and  said,  ^'('(nuc.  sir,  wliat  do  you 
say  ?  " 

Felix  did  at  once  what  he  would  v(  i-y  likely  h.ave  done  with- 
out bfung  asked  — he  ste})]ied  on  to  the  stone,  and  took  off  his 
cap  by  ar.  instinctive  proin])ting  that  always  led  Idni  to  speak 
uneovered.  The  effect  of  his  ligiii!'  in  reliet  against  the  stone 
barkgrouml  was  unlike  that  of  the  pi-i'vious  sjieakei-.  He  was 
considerably  taller,  his  head  and  nerk  wei'C  more  massive,  and 
the  expression  of  his  mouth  and  eyes  was  something  very  dif- 
f(u-ent  from  the  mere  acuteni-s  and  rather  harddipped  antago- 
nism of  the  ti'ades-nnion  man.  k'elix  I  Iolt"s  face  liad  tlie  look  of 
habitual  meditative  abstra.ction  trom  ot)iects  of  mer<>  })ersonal 
vanity  or  desire,  whieh  is   the  ]"''ul;;.r  stamp  of  culture,  and 


804  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

makes  a  very  roughly  cut  face  worthy  to  be  called  ''  the  humaL. 
face  divine."  Even  lions  and  dogs  know  a  distinction  between 
men's  glances ;  and  doubtless  those  Duffield  men,  in  the  exjiec- 
tation  with  which  they  looked  up  at  f'elix,  were  unconsciously 
influenced  by  the  grandeur  of  his  full  yet  firm  mouth,  and  the 
calm  clearness  of  his  gray  eyes,  which  were  somehow  unlike 
what  tlipy  were  accustomed  to  sec  along  v/ith  an  old  brown  vel- 
veteen coat,  and  an  absence  of  chin-propping.  When  he  began  to 
speak,  the  contrast  of  voice  vv'as  still  strongrM-  than  that  of  ap- 
pearance. The  man  in  the  flannel  sldrt  had  not  Ijcen  heard  — 
had  probably  not  cared  to  be  heard  —  bevond  the  immediate 
group  of  listeners.  But  Felix  at  once  drew  the  attention  of 
pjersons  comparativfdy  at  a  distance. 

"  In  my  opinion,*'  lu;  said,  almost  the  moment  after  he  was 
addressed,  '■'  that  was  a  trm;  word  s[)oken  by  your  friend  when 
he  said  the  great  question  v/as  how  tn  give  evrry  man  a  man's 
share  in  life.  But  I  think  he  expects  voting  to  do  more  to- 
wards it  than  I  do.  I  want  the  worldng  men  to  ha^'e  powci-. 
I 'm  a  working  man  myself,  and  I  don't  want  to  be  anything 
else.  But  there  are  two  soi'ts  of  pjov/er.  There  's  a  power  to 
do  mischief  —  to  undo  what  has  been  done  witli  great  expense 
and  labor,  to  waste  and  destroy,  to  be  crutd  to  tiic  wi^ak,  to  lie 
and  quarrel,  and  to  talk  poisonous  nonsense.  'Hiat  "s  llif  soil 
of  ])ower  tliat  ignorant  numbers  have.  It  never  ma(l(^  a  j(_)int 
sto'd  or  planted  a  })otato.  Do  you  think  it's  likely  to  do 
much  towards  govfiaiing  a  great  country,  and  malving  wise 
laws,  and  giving  shcltr-r,  food,  aiid  clothes  to  millions  of  nnii  ? 
T'^^iioi'ant  poVv'er  comes  in  the  <'nd  to  the  same  thimr  as  wicked 
l)OVv-('r;  it  makes  miser}'.  It's  aiiotlicr  srirt  of  jiowci'  that  I 
want  us  working  men  to  have,  and  T  can  se<;  plainly  enougli 
that  our  all  having  votes  will  do  little  towards  it  at  pi'esent. 
I  hope  we.  oi-  tht;  children  that  come  aCtiT  ii<.  Vv'ill  get  plenty 
of  political  power  some  time.  I  tell  everybod}'  ])lainly,  I  ho])e 
there  will  be  great,  (diaiiges.  and  that  ^oine  time.  Avhether  we 
live  to  sec  it  or  not.  lueii  \v\\\  ha\-e  come  to  lie  ashamed  of 
things  they 're  proud  of  now.  lint  I  should  like  to  convince 
vou  that  votes  would  never  give  you  ]jolitical  jiower  wortli 
ha-'ir\g  while  things  are  as  they  ar"  now,  and  tliat  if  you  go 


FELIX  HOLT,  THE  RADICAL.  305 

the  riglit  way  to  work  }uu  may  get  }<o\ver  sooner  without 
votes.  j'('rlia[!S  all  you  who  hear  me  are  sober  men,  who  try 
to  learn  a.ri  much  of  the  nature  of  things  as  you  can,  and  to  h'c 
as  IJtth^  like  fools  as  })ossible.  A  fool  or  idiot  is  one  who  ex- 
pects things  to  hai)})en  that  never  can  ha[)pen ;  he  pours  milk 
into  a  can  without  a  bottom,  and  expects  the  milk  to  stay  tliere. 
The  more  of  such  vain  ex})ectations  a  man  has,  the  more  he  is 
of  a  fool  or  idiot.  And  if  any  working  man  expects  a  vote  to 
do  for  him  what  it  never  can  do,  he  's  foolish  to  that  amount, 
if  no  more.     I  think  that 's  clear  enough,  eh  ?  " 

"  Hear,  hear,''  said  several  voices,  but  they  were  not  those 
of  the  original  group  ;  they  belong(ul  to  some  strollers  who 
had  been  attracted  l)y  1^'elix  Holt's  vibrating  voice,  and  were 
Tories  from  the  Crown.  Anaong  them  was  Christian,  who  ^\';^s 
smoking  a  cigar  with  a  pleasure  he  always  felt  in  being  amo-!;.,' 
peo])le  who  did  not  know  him,  and  doubtless  took  him  to  be 
something  higher  than  he  really  was.  Hearers  from  the  h'ox 
and  Hounds  also  were  slowly  adding  themselves  to  the  nucleus. 
Felix,  accessible  to  the  pleasure  oi  being  listened  to,  went  on 
with  more  anii  more  animation  :  — 

''  The  way  to  g(^t  rid  of  folly  is  to  get  rid  of  vain  expecta- 
tions, and  of  thoughts  that  don't  agree  with  the  nature  of 
things.  The  men  wlio  have  had  true  thoughts  about  water, 
and  what  it  will  do  when  it  is  turned  into  steam  and  inxler 
all  sorts  of  eireumstanci^s,  ]ia\"o  niade  themscdves  a  great  power 
in  the  world  :  tliey  are  turniji'j;  tlie  whe'ls  oi'  engines  that  will 
h(dp  to  eliaii'^^e  most  things.  I'ut  no  engines  would  have  doie', 
if  there  had  been  false  notions  about  the  w;n-  water  would 
act.  Xow,  all  tlie  schemes  about  voting,  and  districts,  and 
annual  l*arliainents,  and  tlie  rest,  are  engines,  and  Hk;  water 
or  steani  —  tlu"  force  that  is  to  work  them  —  must  come  out 
of  human  nature  —  out  of  men's  jiassions,  feelings,  d-sires. 
Wliether  the  en<::i!ies  will  do  good  worlc  or  bad  dt^pends  on 
these  fi'clin'^'-s  ;  and  if  we  liave  t'e_'..-e  ex[it">ctations  aliout  nieTi'-^ 
characters,  we  are  very  much  lilvo  tli^^  iillot  wlio  t^!i".l;s  ]'.<■  "A 
carry  nii'k  in  a  can  wilbo'ii  a  bi.tieiu.  Tn  mv  o-,  i:r  ni.  tlie 
noli' ins  about  Aviiat  mere  vol  in  :  will  do  are  very  mucli  ef  tliat 

VOL.  III.  20 


30G  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"  That 's  very  fine,"  sa,id  a  man  in  dirty  fustian,  witli  a 
scornful  laugh.  "  But  how  are  we  to  get  the  power  without 
votes  ?  " 

"  I  '11  tell  you  what 's  the  greatest  jiower  under  heaven," 
said  Felix,  '"'and  that  is  public  opinion  —  the  ruling  belief  in 
society  about  what  is  right  and  what  is  Avrong,  wliat  is  hon- 
orable and  what  is  shameful.  That 's  the  bieam  that  is  to 
work  the  engines.  How  can  political  freedom  make  us  better, 
any  more  than  a  religion  we  don't  believe  in,  if  people  laugh 
and  wink  v/hen  they  see  men  abuse  and  delile  it  ?  And  while 
public  opinion  is  whiit  it  is  —  while  men  have  no  better  beliefs 
about  public  dutj'  —  while  corruption  is  not  feit  to  be  a  damn- 
ing disgrace  —  wLulc  men  are  not  ashaiiu'd  in  I'arli;inient  and 
out  of  it  to  make  publie  (paestions  wliieh  concerii  tlie  welfare 
of  millions  a  mere  screen  for  their  own  petty  private  ends, — 
I  say,  no  fresh  scheme  of  voting  will  much  mend  our  condi- 
tion. For,  take  us  working  men  of  all  sorts.  Su])[i0se  out  of 
every  hundred  wlio  had  a  vote  there  were  thirty  who  had 
some  soberness,  some  sense  to  choose  with,  some  good  feeling 
to  make  them  wish  tlie  right  thing  for  all.  And  sup]iose  there 
were  seventy  out  of  the  hundred  who  were,  half  of  tiu-m,  not 
so])er,  wlio  had  no  sense  to  clioose  one  thing  in  ixditics  more 
tlian  another,  and  who  had  so  littlo  good  i'ct'ling  in  tliem  tliat 
they  wasted  on  tlieir  own  drinking  tlie  money  tliat  sliould 
ha..ve  hi'lp(Ml  to  feed  and  fli'tlic  tli'^ir  wives  and  cliildren;  and 
aiiollicr  liall'  of  tlirm  wild,  if  tln-y  did  n't  drin.lr,  -were  too  igno- 
rant or  mean  or  stii])id  to  see  a.iiy  good  for  tliemselves  bette-r 
than  ])0cketi!ig  a  iive-shiliing  piece  when  it  was  or!'ei'(  d  them. 
^\']iere  would  be  tlie  ])olitic,al  ])Ower  oi'  Ihi;  tliirty  sober  men  ? 
'I"he  ]>OAver  woidd  lie  with  tlu;  seventv  diaiiiken  auil  stupid 
votes;  and  I'll  tell  you  what  soi't  of  iiieii  would  get  ihepowc-r 
—  what  sort  of  men  would  end  by  relwrning  whom  they  pleased 
to  f-'arliameiit."' 

Felix  had  seen  every  face  around  him,  and  liad  particularly 
noticed  a  recent  addition  to  liis  audience;  but  now  Ik;  lookinl 
Vjefore  him  without  appearing  to  fix  his  >^danc,e  on  anyone.  In 
S})ite  of  his  cooliiijr  nu'ditatious  an  iiour  ago,  his  pidse  was 
getting  qaickentjd  by  indjgnatiou,  and  the  desire  to  erush  whac 


FELIX    HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  30T 

he  hated  was  likely  to  vent  itself  in  articulation.  His  tone 
became  more  biting. 

"  They  would  be  men  who  would  undertake  to  do  the  busi- 
ness for  a  candidate,  and  return  him  :  men  who  have  no  real 
opinions,  but  who  pilfer  the  Avords  of  every  opinion,  and  turn 
them  into  a.  cant  wliich  will  serve  their  purpose  at  the  moment ; 
men  who  look  out  for  dirty  work  to  make  their  fortunes  by, 
because  dirty  work  wants  little  talent  and  no  conscience  ;  men 
Avho  know  all  the  ins  and  outs  of  briljery,  because  there  is  not 
a  cranny  in  their  own  soids  where  a  bribe  can't  enter.  Such 
men  as  these  will  be  the  masters  wherever  there's  a  majorit}'' 
of  voters  wlio  care  more  for  money,  more  for  driidv,  more  for 
some  niea)i  little  end  which  is  their  own  and  nobody  else's, 
than  for  anything  that  has  ever  been  called  Jiiglit  in  the  world. 
For  suppose  there  's  a  })oor  voter  named  Jack,  vrho  has  seven 
children,  ;ui(l  twelve  or  ilfteen  shillings  a-Aveck  v/ages,  perhaps 
less.  Jack  can't  i-cad  —  I  don't  say  whose  f^iult  that  is — he 
never  had  tlie  eliance  to  h>arn ;  he  knows  so  little  that  he  per- 
haps thinks  Crod  made  the  poordaws,  and  it'  anybody  said 
tlie  pattern  ol'  the  workhouse  was  laid  down  in  the  Ti'stanient, 
he  wouldn't  l)e  able  to  contradict  them.  What  is  ])Oor  Jack 
likely  t<j  do  wlieu  ]\o  set's  a  smart  stranger  coming  to  Lini,  who 
happens  to  be  just  one  of  those  men  that  I  say  will  be  the 
]nasters  till  jmblie  opiiuou  gits  too  hot  for  them';'  lie's  a 
middle-sized  juan,  we  "11  say  ;  stout,  v.'ith  coat  uiion  eoat  of  tine 
broadcloth,  open  enough  to  show  a,,  tine  gold  eliain  :  none  of  your 
dark,  scowling  nuui.  but  one  with  an  innocent  pink-and-white 
skin  and  vci'}' smooth  light  liaii'  —  a  nu^st  rv'Spcclabh'  man,  who 
calls  himsfir  by  a  good,  soiind.  wrll-known  fhiglisli  rianu'  —  as 
Green,  or  liaker,  or  A\'ils(>n.  oi'.  let  us  say,  -bduison —  " 

Felix  was  interru])t«'d  by  an  explosion  of  laugliter  j'rom  a 
majority  of  the  lystanders.  Sonic  eyes  had  been  turned  on 
dohnson,  who  stood  on  the  right  hand  of  Felix,  at  the  vei'v  he- 
ginning  of  the  description,  ;uid  these  were  gradua.Ily  followeii 
by  others,  till  at  last  every  hearei'"s  attention  was  tixed  on  him, 
anil  the  iirst  Imrst  of  laughtei'  from  the  two  or  thrive  who  knew 
the  attorney's  name,  let  every  one'  siitiiciently  into  the  secret 
to  nuiive  the  amu:5emeut  common.      Johnson,  wJio  had  kept  his 


308  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

ground  till  his  name  was  mentioned,  now  turned  away,  looking 
unusually  white  after  being  unusually  red,  and  feeling  by  an 
attornej^'s  instinct  for  his  pocket-book,  as  if  he  felt  it  was  a 
case  for  taking  down  the  names  of  witnesses. 

All  the  well-dressed  hearers  turned  av;ay  too,  thinking  they 
had  had  the  cream  of  the  speech  in  the  joke  against  Johnson, 
which,  as  a  thing  worth  telling,  helped  to  recall  them  to  the 
Kcene  of  dinner. 

"Who  is  this  Johnson?"  said  Christian  to  a  young  man 
who  had  been  standing  near  him,  and  had  been  one  of  the  first 
to  laugh.  Christian's  curiosity  had  naturally  been  awakened 
by  what  might  prove  a  golden  opportunity. 

"Oh — -a  London  attorney.  He  acts  for  Trnusome.  That 
tremendous  fellow  at  the  corner  there  is  some  red-hot  Radical 
demagogue,  and  Johnson  has  offended  him,  I  suppose  ;  else  he 
would  n't  have  turned  in  that  way  on  a  man  of  their  own 
party." 

"  I  had  heard  there  was  a  Johnson  who  was  an  understrap- 
per of  Jermyn's,"  said  Christian. 

"  Well,  so  this  man  may  have  been  for  what  I  know.  But 
he's  a  London  man  now  —  a  very  busy  fellow  —  on  his  own 
legs  in  Bedford  Bow.  Ha  ha  !  It 's  capital,  though,  when 
these  Liberals  get  a  slap  in  the  face  from  the  working  men 
they  're  so  very  fond  of." 

Another  turn  along  the  street  ^'nablod  Christian  to  come  to 
a  resolution.  Having  seen  Jermyn  drive  away  an  hour  liefore, 
he  was  in  no  fear ,  he  walked  at  once  to  the  Fox  and  Hounds 
and  asked  to  speak  to  i\H\  Johnson.  A  brief  interview,  in 
which  (ILristian  ascertained  that  he  had  before  him  the  John- 
son mentiont'd  by  the  bill-sticker,  issued  in  the  a])pointment 
of  a  longer  one  at  a  later  hour;  and  licfore  the\' left  Dutfield 
they  liad  conic  not  exactly  to  a  mutual  understanding,  but  to 
an  exchang<'  (>i  inforniiition  mutually  Avclcome. 

Christian  had  l)rr'ii  very  cautious  in  the  commencement,  only 
intimating  that  he  knew  something  important  which  some 
chance  hints  had  induced  him  to  think  might  be  interesting  to 
Mr.  Johnson,  but  tliai  tliis  entirely  depended  in  how  far  iie 
liud   a  common    iiitere>,L   with    Mr.  Jeiinyn.      Johnson    replied 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  S09 

that  he  had  much  business  in  which  that  gentleman  was  not 
concerned,  but  that  to  a  certain  extent  they  had  a  common 
interest.  I'robably  tlien,  Christian  observed,  the  affairs  of 
the  Transonic  estate  were  part  of  the  business  in  which  ]VIr. 
Jermyu  and  Mr.  Johnson  might  be  understood  to  represent 
each  other  —  in  which  case  he  need  not  detain  Mr.  Johnson  ? 
At  this  hint  Johnson  couhl  not  conceal  that  he  was  becoming 
eagi'r.  He  had  no  idea  what  Christian's  information  was,  but 
there  were  many  grounds  on  which  Johnson  desired  to  know 
as  much  as  lie  coidd  about  the  Transome  affairs  independeiitly 
of  .Jermyn.  By  little  and  little  an  understanding  was  arrived 
at.  Christian  told  of  his  interview  with  Tcjmniy  Trounsem, 
and  stated  that  if  Johnson  could  show  him  whether  the  knowl- 
edge couhl  have  any  legal  value,  he  could  bring  evidence  tluit 
a  legitimate  child  of  Eycliff'e's  existed:  lie  felt  certain  of  his 
fact,  and  of  his  proof.  Johnson  ex[)lained,  that  in  tliis  case 
the  (leatli  of  the  old  bill-sticker  would  give  tlie  child  the  tirst 
valid  claim  to  the  l!y(diff'c  heirship  ;  that  for  his  own  i.^art  he 
should  be  glad  to  further  a  true  claim,  but  that  caution  must 
be  observed.  How  did  Christian  know  that  Jermyn  was  in- 
formed on  this  subject  ?  Christian,  more  and  more  ctnivinced 
tliat  Johnson  would  l)e  glad  to  counteract  Jermyn,  at  length 
became  exjtlieit  about  Esther,  but  still  withheld  his  own 
real  name,  and  the  nature  of  his  relations  with  ]>yclift'i,\  He 
said  he  Wduld  bring  the  rest  of  his  iiiformatiDn  when  ^Mr. 
Johnson  took  the  case  u[i  seriously,  and  pla<'('  it  in  the  hands 
oi"  i'yeliffp's  old  lawyers  —  of  course  he  would  do  that  ? 
Johnson  repilied  that  h(^  would  certainly  do  that;  but  that 
tliei'e  were  legal  niceties  which  Mi'.  Christian  was  probably 
not  acquainted  with;  that  Estlu'rVs  claim  had  not  yet  accrued; 
and  tli;it  hurry  was  useless. 

The  two  men  parted.  I'aeh  in  distrust  of  the  other,  but  eneh 
well  pleased  to  have  learned  somethimr.  ./'ohnson  was  not  at 
all  sure  how  he  should  act,  but  tlioughf  it  likely  tliat  events 
would  soon  guidr'  him.  Christian  was  beginning  to  meditate 
a  way  of  securing  his  own  ends  without  depending  in  th''  least 
on  .lohiisoirs  proeedure.  It  was  enough  for  hiii:  t':at  he  w-i 
Tu>v  assured  of  Esther's  le^'al  claim  on  the  Transeiine  estat  ■; 


310  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

In  the  cofiia  of  the  factious  ]anf,^uafje  the  wonl  Tory  was  entortamed,  .  .  . 
nnd  heiiig  a  \'ocal  clever-.-ouiuiin.g  wurd,  readil}-  jiro'iouuccd,  it  kept  its  lidd, 
and  took  jjussession  of  the  foul  mouths  of  the  faction.  .  .  .  The  Lovalists  be- 
gan to  cheer  uji  and  to  take  heart  of  La-ace,  and  in  tl\e  ^'.'orking  of  tliis  crisis, 
according  to  tlie  common  lav.-s  of  scoMing,  they  considered  whicli  wav  to 
make  jiaynient  for  so  much  of  Tory  as  tliey  had  been  treated  with,  to  clear 
scores.  .  .  .  Immediately  the  train  took,  and  ran  like'  wiidtire  and  liecame 
general.  Ami  so  the  account  of  Tory  was  Iialaiiced,  au'!  .~o,ju  hegau  to  run 
up  a  sharp  score  on  the  other  side.  —  Nouth's  Etchih  n,  ji.  .'321 . 

At  last  tlic  great  epoch  of  tlie  election  for  North  Loam.shire 
liaci  arrived.  The  roads  approaching  Trcbv  were  early  trav- 
ersed hy  a  larger  number  of  vehicles,  horsemen,  and  also  foot- 
passengers,  than  were  ever  seen  there  at  the  annual  fair. 
Treljy  Vv'as  the  polling-])lace  for  many  voters  wliose  faces  were 
quite  strange  in  the  town  ;  and  if  there  were  some  strangers 
who  did  not  come  to  poll,  though  they  liad  business  not  uncon- 
nected with  the  election,  they  Avere  not  liabde  to  lie  regarded 
with  suspicion  or  es])('C!al  curiosity.  It  was  understood  tliat 
no  divisinii  of  a  ccaiiity  h;id  ever  bc^en  m(,re  tlmri'U^-lily  c;in- 
viissed.  ;i!i'l  tli;it  theri^  wdulil  be  ;i  h;n'd  I'un  Ijotv/ecii  Garstin 
and  Ti'.'Misnme.  ^Fr.  Joliiison's  hc'udfpiarroi's  woie  at  Dutliold  ; 
but  it  A\'as  ;i  maxim  which  ho  I'epeatod  :ti'ter  tlie  oi'cM.t  J'titty, 
tlnit  a  e,'i]i;d)lo  af^^'ut  m.ikos  himself  Diiniipi'osi'nr  ;  and  ouite 
ajiart  i'li'in  the  expi'ess  liotwi-i-n  liiin  and  .MTmyn.  ]\rr.  dolin 
Joluisoii's  ])rosonee  ill  tlio  uni\'i!'se  iiad  ])Ote!)t  eifects  on  this 
I)ecom])oi-  il;iy  ;i;  Ti'eiiv  MaLriia. 

A  sligln  (b-i/zliiio  j'aiii  wliieli  v,-as  oliserved  l)y  some  Toi'ies 
who  loobfi]  (lUt  of  tinur  bedrnum  wmoows  before  six  OT-htck. 
made  tliem  hoj/e  that,  after  all.  tli'-  day  miglit  ])ass  olf  better 
than  alarnusts  liail  expected.  'Ide-  rain  was  felt  to  be  somo- 
liow  on  the  sido  df  i]ui<-t  and  < '(  ;iserv,atism  ;  but  soon  the 
breaking  of  the  ebiuibs  and  tie'  mibl  oh-anis  ed'  a  I)oeembe'r  sun 
brought  back  previuu.s  apprehensions.     As  there  were  already 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  311 

precedents  for  riot  at  a  Reformed  election,  and  as  the  Trebiau 
district  had  had  its  confidence  in  tlie  natural  course  of  things 
somewhat  shaken  by  a  landed  proprietor  with  an  old  name 
offering  liimsiilf  as  a  Radic;il  candidate,  the  election  had  been 
looked  forward  to  by  many  with  a  vague  sense  that  it  would 
be  an  occasion  somotliing  like  a  fightint:  match,  when  Ixid  char- 
acters  woiihl  ])robably  assemble,  and  th'-re  might  be  struggles 
and  alarms  i'i,'i' ri's|)ect:abl(' men,  which  vv^ouhl  make  it  expedient 
for  them  to  take  a  little  neat  br.mdy  as  a  precaution  before- 
hand and  a  restorative  afterwards.  The  tenants  on  the  Tran- 
some  estate  were  comparatively  fearless:  poor  'Mv.  Goffe,  of 
Ivabbit's  End.  considered  that  '''one  thing  was  as  mauling  as 
another,*'  and  that  an  election  was  no  worse  than  the  sheep- 
rot  ;  while  ^Ir.  Dibbs,  taking  the  more  cheerful  view  of  a  })ros- 
perous  man,  reflected  that  if  the  liadicals  were  dangerous,  it 
was  safer  to  be  on  tlieir  side.  It  was  tlie  voters  for  Debarry 
and  Garstin  who  considered  that  they  alone  had  the  right  to 
regard  themst^lves  as  targets  for  evil-jninded  men;  and  ^Iv. 
Crowdi'i',  if  he  could  liave  got  his  ideas  countenanced.  wf)uld 
liave  recumriiended  a  nuister  of  farm-servants  with  defensive 
pitchbjrlLS  en  llie  side  of  Church  and  King.  15ut  tlie  bolder 
men  were  ra.dieL'  gratified  by  the  ])rosj)eet  of  being  groaned  at, 
so  that  they  miglit  face  about  and  groan  in  return. 

'My.  C"i)\\\  tlu!  liigli  constable  of  Ti'el-v,  inwardly  rehearsed 
a  brief  address  to  a  riotous  crowd  in  case  it  sliould  be  wa.nted, 
]ia\'ing  been  \\-arneil  by  th.e  Rector  tiiat  it  was  a  primary  duty 
on  tiiese  ot'casion.s  to  keep  a  watch  against  ])i'ovocation  as  well 
as  violence.  The  Rector,  with  a  lir^ 'her  inagistrate  who '\'as 
on  the  spot,  liad  thought  it  desii'abie  io  swear  in  some  special 
c.tmstables.  1,'ut  the  pi'esence  oi  loyal  men  ut^t  absolutely  re- 
(piired  for  the  polling  was  not  Icr.ked  at  in  the  li'_rht  of  a.  provo- 
cation. The  15en(Mit  Clubs  fVoni  vai'ious  quaiters  inade  a 
show,  some  Avith  the  ()ran'-;'e-e(i|(n'ci|  riblxuis  and  sti'Hamors  of 
tlie  true  Tory  candidate,  some  \vi;h  the  mazarine  of  the  Whig. 
The  orange-colored  bands  played  ••  Auld  Rani:syn"."  and  a 
louiliu' mazarine  band  (-ame  across  them  with  ••(.)h.  wlii>tle  and 
1  will  come  to  thee,  my  lad"  —  ur^ljably  a,s  the  ti;n"  the  most 
symbolical  of  Liberalism  which  iheir  lepLU'tury  would  lurnisk. 


312  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

There  was  not  a  single  club  bearing  the  Eadical  blue :  the 
Sproxton  Club  members  wore  the  mazarine,  and  ]Mr.  Chubb 
wore  so  much  of  it  that  he  looked  (at  a  sufficient  distance) 
like  a  very  large  gentianella.  It  was  generally  understood 
that  "these  brave  fellows/'  representing  the  fine  institution 
of  Benefit  Clubs,  and  holding  aloft  the  motto,  "Let  brotlierly 
love  continue,"  were  a  civil  force  calculated  to  encourage  vot- 
ers of  sound  opinions  and  keep  up  their  spirits.  But  a  con- 
siderable number  of  unadorned  heavy  navvies,  colliers,  and 
stone-pit  men,  who  used  their  freedom  as  British  subjects  to  be 
present  in  Treby  on  this  great  occasion,  looked  like  a  possibly 
uncivil  force  whose  politics  were  dubious  until  it  was  clearly 
seen  for  whom  they  cheered  and  for  whom  tliey  groaned. 

Thus  the  way  up  to  tlie  polling-booths  was  variously  lined, 
and  those  who  walked  it,  to  whatever  side  they  belonged,  had 
the  advantage  of  hearing  from  the  opposite  side  what  were  the 
most  marked  defects  or  excesses  in  their  personal  appearance ; 
for  the  Trebians  of  that  day  held,  without  being  aware  that 
they  had  Cicero's  authority  for  it,  that  the  bodily  blemishes 
of  an  opponent  were  a  legitimate  ground  for  ridifule ;  but  if 
the  votor  frustrated  wit  by  being  handsome,  he  was  groaned 
at  and  satirized  according  to  a  formula,  in  which  the  adjec- 
tive was  'l'<*ry,  "Whig,  or  Tiadifal,  as  the  casp  mi;;'lit  be,  and 
the  substantive  a  ])lank  to  be  filled  up  after  the  taste  of  the 
speaker. 

Some  of  the  more  timid  had  chosen  to  go  tlirongli  this  ordeal 
as  eai-ly  as  jiossible  in  tin-  morning.  One  of  tlie  (  a.rliest  Avas 
Mr.  Tiinnthy  Bose,  the  gentlfman-farmcr  from  Lf-^k  ^Malton. 
He  had  h'i't  hfinie  with  some  foreboding,  liavim:  swathfd  his 
more  vital  ])arts  in  layers  of  flannel,  and  })ut  on  two  great- 
coats as  a  soft  kind  of  armor.  lUit  reflecting  witji  some  trepi- 
dation that  ilicrr  wer,.  no  resources  for  proter-ting  his  head,  he 
once  more  wavcicl  in  ]iis  intention  to  votf  :  Ik^  onct^  more  f-b- 
served  to  Mrs.  Vuix-  tliat  Hiese  were  hard  tinuv-  when  a  man 
of  independent  jirojKTly  was  expected  to  vote  •' Avilly-nilly  ;  " 
but  finally,  coerced  hy  lie-  sense  that  he  shoul.l  he  looked  ill 
O'l  ••in  these  timff; '"  if  "!;-  •Md  not  >taiul  ]>}'  tlie  gf-ntlemcn 
If-'Uid  about,  he  set  out  in  his  ;jig,  taking  with  him  a  pu\\tjilul 


FELTX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  318 

wagoner,  whom  he  ordered,  to  keep  him  in  sight  as  he  went  to 
the  polling-booth.  It  was  liardly  more  than  nine  o'clock  when 
j\[r.  Kose,  having  thus  come  up  to  the  level  of  his  times, 
cheered  himself  with  a  little  cherry-brandy  at  the  Marquis, 
drove  away  in  a  much  more  courageous  sjiirit,  and  got  down 
at  ^Ir.  iS'olan's,  just  outside  the  town.  Tin;  retired  Londoner, 
he  consiilered,  was  a  man  of  experience,  who  would  estimate 
jtroperly  the  judicious  course  he  had  taken,  and  could  make  it 
known  to  others.  Mr.  Xohm  was  superintending  the  removal 
of  some  shrubs  in  his  garden. 

"Well,  Mj-.  ISTolan,"  said  Kose,  twinkling  a  self-corn] dacent 
look  over  the  red  prominence  of  his  cheeks,  '-have  you  been 
to  give  your  vote  yet  ?  " 

'-No;  all  in  good  time.     I  shall  go  presently." 

"Well,  I  wouldn't  lose  an  hour,  I  wouldn't.  1  said  to  my- 
self, if  I  've  got  to  do  gentlemen  a  favor,  I  '11  do  it  at  once. 
You  see,  I've  got  no  landlord.  Nolan  —  I'm  in  that  position 
o'  liie  that  I  can  be  inde])endent." 

"Just  so,  my  dear  sir.''  said  the  wiry -faced  Xolan.  |)inching 
his  underdip  between  his  thumb  and  linger,  and  giving  one  of 
those  wonderful  universal  slirugs.  by  wlii(di  he  seemed  to  be 
recalling  all  his  garments  from  a  tendency  to  disjierse  them- 
selves.    "Come  in  and  see  ]Mrs.  Xolan  ?" 

'■  Xo,  no,  thaukye.  ^Ii's.  IJose  ex])ects  me  bacdc.  But,  as 
I  was  saying,  I'm  a  inde))endent  man,  and  1  consider  it's  net 
my  ]iart  to  show  favor  to  one  more  than  anolhei-.  l)ut  to  make 
things  as  even  as  1  can.  If  1  'd  been  a  tenant  to  ;ni\body,  we]', 
in  cours(>  I  must  have  v^oted  foi'  my  landloi'd  —  that  stands  to. 
sense.  ISnt  I  wish  everybody  ^\'e]l  ;  antl  il'  one's  returned  to 
Parliament  more  than  anothei'.  nobody  can  say  it's  my  doing: 
for  whe]i  you  can  vot(^  i'oi-  two.  you  can  mal<e  things  even.  So 
T  gave  one  to  Debai'ry  and  one  to  Transomc^  ;  and  T  wish  (lar- 
stin  no  ill,  but  1  can't  help  liie  (jild  number,  and  he  hangs  on 
to  l^ebaiay.  they  say.'' 

"(ioil  bless  me.  sii'.'"  said  Mi',  Xolan.  couLrliinc::  down  a  laugh, 
"don't  you  ])ereei\'e  tliat  \'oii  aim-li!  a.s  well  liav''  -laved  at 
h(.)me  and  not  voted  at  all.  e-,>-;<  you  woulil  ratiier  send  a 
ixaiiical  tLi  I'arliament  than  a  soli"r  Wliig  ? "' 


314  FELIX   HOLT,    TPIP:   RADICAL. 

"Well,  I'm  sorry  you  should  havp  anything  to  say  against 
what  1  "ve  done,  Xolan,"  said  Mr.  Kost\  rather  cresttailen, 
though  sustained  by  inward  Avarmth.  '■  1  thought  you  'd  agree 
with  me,  as  you  "re  a  sensible  man.  But  the  most  a  indejjen- 
dent  man  can  do  is  to  try  and  please  all ;  and  if  he  has  n't  the 
luck  —  here  's  "wishing  I  may  do  it  another  time,""  added  ]\Ir. 
Eose,  apparently  confounding  a  toast  with  a  salutation,  for  he 
put  out  his  hand  for  a  passing  shake,  and  then  stepped  into 
his  gig  again. 

At  tilt'  time  that  ^h:  Timothy  Rose  left  tlie  town,  tlie  crowd 
in  King  Street  and  in  the  market-pla';t\  wliei-e  the  polling- 
booths  stood,  was  fluctuating.  Voters  as  yet  were  scanty,  and 
brave  fellows  wlio  liad  come  from  any  distance  tliis  morning, 
or  who  had  sat  up  late  drinking  the  night  before,  reqtiired 
some  reinforcement  of  tlieir  strength  and  siiirits.  Every 
public-house  in  Treby,  not  excepting  the  venerabif  and  sombre 
Cross-i<Ccys,  was  lively  with  changing  and  numerous  company. 
Xot,  oi  course,  that  there  was  any  treating:  treating  neces- 
sarily liad  stopped,  frum  nuu'al  scruples.  Avhen  once  •'•the  writs 
were  out ;  "  but  tlie,re  was  drinking,  which  did  erp^ally  well 
under  any  name. 

Poor  Tommy  Trounsem.  l^reakfasting  here  on  Falstaff's  pro- 
poi'ticm  of  bread,  and  something  which,  for  gentility's  sake, 
I  will  call  sack,  was  niore  than  usually  victt-rinus  ovei'  the  ills 
of  lifi'.  and  felt  liimself  one  of  the  lieroes  of  the  day.  lie  had 
an  immense  light-ijln.e  cockade  in  his  hat.  and  an  amount  of 
silver  in  a  dirty  little  ennvas  hag  which  astonished  liirnself. 
J''nr  some  i'.';is;.ii.  at  iirst  iiisciaitable  tn  him.  lie  ha'l  been  ]iaid 
b)r  his  bill-sticking  Avitli  gi'eat  liljei-ality  at  iMr.  .Teianyn's  oliice, 
in  spite  of  his  liaving  been  the  victim  <if  a  trick  by  \\hich  he 
had  once  lost  his  own  bills  and  pasted  up  Deliarry's  ;  but  he 
soon  sa'v  that  tliis  ivas  sim])ly  a  I'ccognition  of  liis  merit  as 
"an  old  faiaily  ki']it  ruit  nf  its  ricrhts."'  and  also  of  his  peculiar 
share  in  an  (icca-io]i  \\-hi'n  tlu-  iamily  was  to  get  into  Parlia- 
ment. Under  these  circumstances,  it  w;is  due  from  him  that 
he  shotdd  show  himself  jirominently  \\'here  business  was  go- 
ing forward,  and  L'ive  i.^Mifion:!!  \-;iluf  by  his  presence  to  every 
vote  for  Transome.      With  this  view  he  got  a  half-pint  bottle 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  315 

filled  with  his  j^'culiar  kind  of  ''  sack/"'  and  hastened  back 
to  the  iuaikL't-place,  feeling  good-natured  and  patronizing 
towards  all  jiolitieal  parties,  and  only  so  far  partial  as  his 
family  bound  him  to  be. 

But  a  disposition  to  concentrate  at  that  extremity  of  King 
Street  whirli  issued  in  the  market-place  was  not  universal 
among  the  increasing  cro'.vd.  Some  of  them  seemed  attracted 
towards  another  nucleus  at  the  otlier  extremity  of  Iving  Street, 
near  the  Seven  Stars.  This  was  Chirstin's  chief  house,  Avdiere 
his  committee  sat,  and  it  was  also  a  })oiut  which  must  neces- 
sarily be  p;i^sed  by  many  voters  entering  the  town  on  the 
eastern  side.  It  seemed  natural  that  the  mazarine  colors 
should  be  visible  here,  and  that  I'ciek,  the  tall  "shepherd"  of 
the  Sproxtou  men,  should  be  seen  moving  to  and  fro  where 
there  would  be  a  frecpumt  op})ortu:iit}  of  cheering  the  voters 
for  a  gentleman  v.'ho  had  the  chief  share  in  the  Sproxtou 
mines.  l;5ut  the  side  lanes  and  entries  out  of  King  Street 
Avero  numerous  enougli  to  relieve  any  ])ressure  if  there  was 
need  to  nudce  wa}'.  Thi>  lan;>s  had  a  distinguished  I'eputation. 
Two  of  them  Jiad  odors  oi'  brewing;  o\w  had  a  side  entrance 
to  ]\rr.  Tibou's  A\-ine  a.ml  spirit  va,nlts  ;  u[)  anether  ]\lr.  ^Mus- 
cat's  cliees<>s  were  fi'eqiKMUly  l)eing  uuhiaded  :  and  evnii  some 
of  the  entries  lind  tliosi'  clieerl'ul  suggestions  of  ])lentiful 
provisioTi  wliieli  wrvo  among  the  cJiaraeteiasties  of  Tieby. 

r.f'tween  ion  and  (>leven  tlie  ^-oters  came  in  more  I'apid  suc- 
cession, anil  tlie  whole  seene  bi'cai'ie  >]ii;'i!i'd.  Cheers,  sai'- 
casms,  and  oaths,  wliieh  seemed  t')  ii'ive  a  Haver  of  wit  for 
manv  hearei's,  wer(^  beginniie^'  t')b''  r^  inlei'eed  by  more  prac- 
tical demonstrations,  dul)i(Misly  jeies  \  There'  was  a  i]is[)osi- 
tion  in  tlie  crowd  to  close  and  hem  in  tlie  way  for  voters, 
eith(M-  going  or  coming,  until  tiiey  ].;;d  pa.id  some  kind  of  toll. 
It  was  'liiheult  to  S(m;  who  <^-i  t'  ■■  i  xani]>le  in  tiie  transition 
from  words  to  deeds.  Some  l!i(iiii;ht  it  was  due  to  Jacob 
Cuff',  a  Tory  eharity-man.  who  was  a  Wfll-knovv!:  orname-nt  of 
the  jiotliouse,  and  gave  his  mind  much  leisure  for  amusing 
dexdefs  ;  but  questioTis  of  Old u'in:: tiou  in  stirring  jxTiodi,^  are 
noterion-dy  bard,  to  settle.  It  i-:  ]>y  no  means  n'^-^'-sarv  in 
human  tilings   tluit  there  shoide    ■■.■'.■  only  one  beginner.      This, 


316  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL. 

however,  is  certain  —  that  Mr.   Chubb,   who  wished  it  to  be 

noticed  tliat  he  voted  for  Garstin  solely,  was  one  of  the  first 
to  get  rather  more  notice  than  he  wished,  and  that  he  had  his 
hat  knocked  off  and  crushed  in  the  interest  of  Debarry  by 
Tories  opposed  to  coalition.  (Jn  the  other  hand,  some  said  it 
was  at  the  same  time  that  'Mv.  Pink,  the  saddler,  being  stopped 
on  lii.^  way  and  made  to  declare  that  he  was  going  to  vote  for 
iJebarry,  got  himself  well  chalked  as  to  his  coat,  and  pushed 
up  an  entry,  where  he  remained  the  prisoner  of  terror  com- 
bined with  the  want  of  any  back  outlet,  and  never  gave  his 
vote  that  day. 

The  second  Tory  joke  was  performed  with  much  gusto. 
The  majority  of  the  Transome  tenants  came  in  a  body  from 
the  Earn  Inn.  with  Mr.  Banks  the  bailiff  leading  tliem.  Poor 
Goffe  was  the  last  of  them,  and  his  worn  melancholy  look  and 
forward-leaning  gait  gave  the  jocose  Cuff  the  notion  that  the 
farmer  was  not  what  he  called  ••  com]ius.''  Mr.  Goffe  was  cut 
oif  from  his  companions  and  hemmed  in ;  asked,  by  voices 
with  hot  breath  close  to  his  ear.  how  many  horses  he  had, 
liow  many  cows,  how  many  fat  pigs  :  then  jostled  from  one 
to  ,'inother.  who  made  trumpets  with  their  hands,  and  deafened 
him  Ijy  telling  him  to  vote  for  Debarry.  In  this  way  the 
mebuicholy  Gr)fff  was  hustled  on  till  he  was  at  the  ])(jlling- 
bootli  —  filled  with  conlused  alarms,  the  immediate  alarm  being 
that  of  having  to  go  ])aek  in  still  worse  fashion  than  he  had 
coin-'.  Ari'iving  in  this  Avay  aftfT  the  other  tenants  had  h'ft, 
he  ;i-idni-li.  <1  all  Ix'arfi's  avIio  knew  him  for  a  tenant  of  thf 
ri"n;>onic-  li\-  saving  ••  Dt'bany.'"  and  was  jostled  back  trem 
i)lii;',-  a.niid   shouts   r)f  lau'^'hter. 

]'>\  sta'^es  f>f  this  kind  the  Inn  grew  fa-ter,  and  wa>  m 
danger  o!'  gi'ttiim-  ratlicr  serions.  'I'lie  Tories  bc^an  tn  ieel 
thai  their  io].;,  .s  viti-  retiii'iu-d  ly  others  oi'  a  hea\'ii']-  scjrt.  and 
that  till'  main  -trcngth  of  tlif  crowd  was  not  on  the  side  of 
sound  r)piiiion.  i.;;!  nii'^lit  cfune  to  be  on  Tjii-  side  of  sound 
cudgeliinL,''  and  ki'-l.-.in'/.  ']"]ii-  na\'\'ii-,-,  ;uiil  oitiiieji  in  liisha- 
bille  seemed  !(_>  ii.-  :;;ultii>]vin'-!'.  and  io  be  cieai'ly  not  belonging 
to  \]'.i-  party  of  <  »i-(bT.  'I'la-  -hoii>  Wi-yi-  frci'l}-  resorted  to  feir 
variijus   forms   of    }'layfid   missiles   and   weapons ;    and   news 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  317 

came  to  the  magistrates,  watching  from  the  large  wiiulow  of 
tlie  Mart^uis,  that  a  gentleman  ccauing  in  on  horseback  at  the 
other  end  of  the  street  to  vole  for  Garstin  had  had  his  liorsc 
turned  round  and  frightened  into  a  headlong  gallop  out  of  it 
again. 

Mr.  Crow  and  his  subordinates,  and  all  the  special  consta- 
bles, felt  that  it  was  necessary  to  make  some  energetic  effei't, 
or  else  every  voter  would  be  intimidated  and  the  poll  must  b;'. 
adjourned.  Tlie  Kect(jr  determineLl  to  get  on  horseback  and 
go  amidst  tlie  crowd  with  the  C(jiistables  ;  and  he  sent  a  mes- 
sage to  ]\[r.  Ling(jn,  who  was  at  tlie  Ham,  calling  on  him  to  do 
the  same.  "  Sporting  Jack  "  was  sure  the  good  fellows  meant 
no  harm,  but  he  was  courageous  enough  to  face  any  Ijodily 
dangers,  and  rode  out  in  his  brown  leggings  and  colored 
bandanna,  speaking  persuasively. 

It  was  nearly  twelve  o'clock  when  this  sally  was  made  :  tlu; 
constables  and  magistrates  tried  the  most  pacific  measures, 
and  they  seemed  to  succeed.  There  Y\"as  a  rapid  thinning  of 
the  crowd  :  the  UK.ist  boisterous  disappeared,  or  seemed  to  do 
so  by  becoming  (piiet ;  missiU>s  ct^ased  to  Hy,  and  a  suliicient 
way  was  cleared  for  V(jt(M\s  iilong  King  Street.  Tlie  magis- 
trates returned  to  their  (piarters,  and  the  cDiistables  took  con- 
venient posts  of  observation.  Mr.  W'aee.  who  was  one  of 
Debarry's  committee,  had  suggested  to  llie  Hector  that  it 
might  be  wise  to  send  for  tlu'  military  from  Dultiehl,  with 
orders  that  they  should  station  thejusdves  at  I  fathei'cote, 
three  miles  oiT  :  there  Avas  so  much  property  in  tlie  town  that 
it  would  be  bettei'  ti;  make  it  seeui'e  again--t  ri>ks.  ]5ut  the 
Iccchu'  f(dt  that  this  was  not  the  pari  n(  a  iiiotlei'j.te  and  \\ise 
magistrat(\  unless  the  signs  r,['  riot  reeairred.  He  v.";'S  a  brave 
man,  and  i'ond  of  thinking  fliat  his  (:wii  aiiihority  sullh-ed  lor 
the  maintenance  of  the  general  good  in  Tre'uy. 


318  FELIX  HOLT.   THE  liADICAL. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Go  from  me.     Yot  T  feel  that  I  sliall  stand 
Heiifcfurwanl  in  thy  shadow.     Never  more 
Alone  upon  the  thi'ushohi  of  my  door 
Of  individual  life,  I  shall  conunand 
Tlie  uses  of  my  soul,  nor  lift  my  hand 
Serenely  in  tin-  suiisliine  as  hefore 
Without  the  sense,  of  that  whiidi  I  forhore  — 
Thy  toueli  upon  the  jialm.     The  widest  land 
Doom  takes  to  jiari  us,  leaves  th\-  heart  iu  mine 
Witli  jnilses  that  heat  douMe.      \Vhat  1  do 
And  what  I  dreani  imdude  thee,  as  I  lie  wine 
Must  taste  of  its  own  ^jr.ijies.     Ami  when  J  suo 
God  for  mys('lf,  lie  li(:ii>  ihat  nanj(-  of  thine, 
And  sees  within  my  ejes  the  tears  of  two. 

Mrs.  Brown  I  wa. 

Felix  IIdlt,  seatod  at  liis  -work  "witlioiit  his  ])tt})ils,  avIio 
had  asked  ['nv  a  lioliday  witli  a  notion  tliat  the  wooden  Lt^oths 
promised  soni(!  sort  of  show,  noticed  nhout  ek;ven  o'elnck  tliut 
the  iioises  wliich  readied  him  from  tli(!  main  street  were  got- 
tu\(j;  more  and  more  Inniultuons.  lie  liad  lont;'  seen  bad 
au;_;-ui'ie.s  for  tlds  eh'ction.  but.  like  ;dl  i)C()])h'  wlio  di'cad  tln^ 
jjrophctic,  wis(h)m  thnt  ends  in  desii'int;-  the  fullilmout  of  its 
(nvn  evil  i'oi'ebodinirs,  he  liad  fdiceked  Iiinr^elf  Avitli  remcniibcr- 
in,i,'  t  liat.  iliou^li  many  conditions  were  ]iossib]e  wliicli  niii^ht 
brin'_,'  on  vi(.]cnec,  tlicr(>  were  just  as  many  Av]ii(dt  nii;^dit  avert 
it.  'rii(jre  would,  jiei'liups.  be  no  other  miseliiid"  tlian  wiiat  lie 
was  ali'cady  certnin  oi'.  With  these  thouohts  lie  liad  stit  down 
qttietly  to  liis  work.  meaiiin,L;"  nol  to  vex  liis  soul  by  ,t,^)ing  to 
h)ok  on  at  iliiii',^-s  lie  would  lain  ]ia\'e  made  diffei-ent  if  he 
coulfh  l'>ut  lie  \v;is  of  a  lilire  tiial  \'ibr;i1iMl  too  sti'oiiLily  to  tliO 
life  around  liim  lo  >]iut  liinisi'lf  a\v;iy  in  quiet,  ev(Ui  from  suf- 
fei'ini,^  ;tnd  iia'eiiiediablc  wi'ouLr.  As  the  noises  jgrew  Icnuh^r, 
and  wron'_,dit  more  rmd  niort^  s1  roni_;-]y  on  Iiis  imiiidii'ition,  lie 
was  obliged  to  la\'  do\Nii  his  thdicade  wlieel-work.      I  lis  mother 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   KADICAL.  319 

camn  from  her  turnip-paring  in  the  kitchen,  where  little  Joh 
was  her  companion,  to  observe  that  they  must  be  killing  every- 
body in  the  High  Street,  and  that  the  election,  which  had 
never  been  before  at  Treby,  must  have  come  for  a  judgment; 
that  there  were  mercies  where  you  did  n't  look  foi'  them,  and 
that  she  thanked  God  in  His  wisdom  for  making  her  live  up  a 
back  street. 

J'\'lix  snatched  his  cap  and  rushed  out.  But  when  he  got  to 
the  tui'iiing  into  the  market-place  the  magistrates  were  already 
on  horseback  there,  the  constables  were  moving  about,  and 
Felix  observed  that  there  was  no  strong  spirit  of  rtjsistance  to 
them.  He  stayed  long  enough  to  see  the  partial  dis})ersion  of 
the  crowd  and  the  restoration  of  tolerable  quiet,  and  then 
went  back  to  ]\Lrs.  Ibjlt  to  teli  her  t!i;!.t  there  was  nothing  to 
fear  now  ;  he  was  going  out  again,  and  she  must  not  be  in  any 
anxiety  at  his  absence.     SIk^  miirht  set  by  liis  dinner  for  him. 

.Felix  had  been  thinking  of  f'^slhei'  and  her  jirobalde  alarm 
at  the  noises  that  nuist  have  rca,ched  hev  more  distinctly  than 
they  had  reached  him,  i'or  Malthouse  \"ai'd  was  removed  but 
a  little  way  from  tlie  main  street.  Mr.  Lyon  was  ;iway  fi'om 
home,  having  been  called  to  preacli  cliarit}'  sermons  and  attend 
meetings  in  a  distimt  town  ;  and  Ksther,  with  tiie  plaintive 
Lyddy  for  h(n-  siile  comiianion,  was  not  (dieerfidly  cii'cum- 
stanced.  l"(dix  had  not  been  to  see  her  yet  since  her  lather's 
departui'e.  but  to-day  he  ga\'e  vray  to  new  I'eascns. 

"  ^liss  I'stlier  was  in  tlie  garret,"  Lyddy  said,  trying  to  see 
what  was  going  on.  l!ut  f)ei'ore  she  was  fet(died  slie  came 
running  down  the  staii's.  dra.wn  by  llie  knock  at  the  (l(.)(n', 
wliiidi   had   shaken  the  small   dwelling. 

'•  T  am  so  tliaidvful  to  see  you,"  slie  said.  eagerl\'.  "Pray 
eomt>  in," 

AN'hen  she  h.ad  sluit  \\\o  ])arl()r  dooi'  behind  tluun.  Felix  said, 
'' T  sus]-)ect(nl  that  \'()u  might  have  been  luadt^  anxic'us  hy  the 
noises.  I  came  Ui  tell  you  that  things  are  (piiet  now.  'J'liough, 
indeed,  you  can  liear  tliat  they  aa-e.'' 

'•I  ?/-(/,s' frightened,"  said  L.^tlier.  "The  shoutiiig  anal  roar- 
ing of  rude  men  is  so  Indeous.  It  is  a  relief  to  )ne  tliat  my 
father   is   not  ;it  home  —  tliat  l;e   is   out  of  the  reach  of  any 


320  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL. 

danger  he  might  have  fallen  into  if  he  had  been  here.  But  I 
gave  you  (credit  for  being  in  the  midst  of  the  danger,"  she 
added,  snainig,  with  a  determination  not  to  show  much  feel- 
ing.    '•  Sit  down  and  tell  me  what  has  happened." 

They  sat  down  at  the  extremities  of  the  old  black  sofa,  and 
Felix  said  — 

*•'  To  tell  you  tlie  truth,  I  had  shut  myself  up,  and  tried  to 
be  as  indifferent  to  tlie  election  as  if  I'd  been  one  of  the  fishes 
in  the  Lapp,  till  the  noises  got  too  strong  for  me.  But  I  oidy 
saw^  the  tail  end  of  the  disturbance.  The  poor  noisy  simple- 
tons seemed  to  give  way  before  the  magistrates  and  the  con- 
stables. I  hope  nobody  has  been  much  hurt.  The  fear  is  that 
they  may  turn  out  again  In'-and-ljy;  their  giving  way  so  soon 
may  not  be  altogetli(/r  a  good  sign.  There 's  a  great  number 
of  heavy  fellows  in  the  town.  If  tliey  go  and  drink  more,  the 
last  end  may  be  worse  than  the  first.     However  —  " 

Felix  broke  off,  as  if  tliis  talk  were  futile,  clasped  his  hands 
behind  his  head,  and,  leaning  backward,  looked  at  Esther,  who 
was  looking  at  him. 

"  May  I  stay  here  a  little  while  ?  "  he  said,  after  a  moment, 
which  seemed  hjng. 

"Pray  do,''  said  Esther,  coloring.  To  relieve  herself  slie 
took  some  wurk  and  bov/ed  her  head  over  her  stitching.  It 
was  in  reality  a  little  licavcn  to  her  that  Felix  was  there,  but 
slif^  saw  Ijuyond  it  —  saw  that  ln'-and-l)y  he  would  be  gone,  and 
tliat  they  sbould  be  fartlier  on  tlieir  way,  not  towards  meeting, 
but  parting.  Ilis  wiil  was  impregnaljle.  He  was  a  vocV.  and 
sii:'  v/as  no  more  to  him  tluui  tlie  wliite  clinging  mist-cloud. 

'•I  wisli  I  eould  be  sure  that  you  S(;e  tilings  just  as  I  do," 
he  said.  abni])tly.  after  a  minute's  silence. 

"I  am  sure  you  see  them  much  more  wisely  than  I  do,"  said 
Esther,  alnuist  bitterly,  without  l(;oking  u]). 

"There  are  some  ])eopl(.'  one  must  wish  to  judge  one  truly. 
Kot  to  wish  it  wiaild  be  mere  hardness.  f  know  you  think  I 
am  a.  man  without  fei'lin;.;-  —  at  least,  Avithout  strong  affections. 
Y(ju  think  I  love  iid'hiiej;  but  niy  (;wn  rf'snlutions." 

'•'  Sup])Ose  I  rejil}'  in  the  same  soit  of  strain  ?  "  said  Esther, 
with  a  little  toss  of  the  iiead. 


FELIX   PIOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  321 

"How?" 

'•  Why,  that  you  think  me  a  shallow  woman,  incapable  of 

believing  what  is  best  in  you,  setting  down  everything  that  is 
too  high  for  me  as  a  deliciency." 

"  Don't  parry  what  I  say.  Answer  me."  There  was  an  ex- 
pression of  })ainful  beseeching  in  the  tone  with  which  Felix 
said  this.  Esther  let  her  work  I'all  on  her  lap  and  looked  at 
him,  but  she  was  unable  to  speak. 

"  I  want  you  to  tell  me  —  on(!e  —  that  you  know  it  would  be 
easier  to  me  to  give  myself  up  to  luving  and  being  loved,  as 
other  men  do,  when  they  can,  than  to  —  " 

This  brcaking-oif  in  s}iecch  was  something  quite  new  in 
Felix.  For  the  first  tinu;  he  had  lost  his  self-possession,  and 
turned  his  eyes  away.  lie  was  at  viiriauce  with  himself.  He 
had  begun  what  he  felt  that  he  ought  not  to  iinish. 

Esther,  like  a  woman  as  she  was  —  a  wonuin  waiting  for 
love,  nevm-  able  to  ask  for  it — had  lu-r  joy  in  tlicse  signs  of 
her  power;  but  they  made  her  genei'ous,  not  chary,  as  they 
might  have  done  if  slie  had  had  a  ]>ettier  disijosition.  She 
said,  with  deep  yet  timid  earnestness  — 

"  ^^'hat  you  liave  clioseii  to  do  h;;s  only  convinced  me  that 
your  love  would  be  the  bettt'r  wcn'th  having." 

All  the  tiuest  part  of  Esther's  nature,  trembled  in  those 
words.  To  be  right  in  great  nuuuorable  moments,  is  perhaps 
the  thing  we  neeil  most  desire  for  ourselves. 

Felix  as  quick  as  lightning  turned  his  look  upon  her  again, 
and,  leaning  fm'ward,  took  her  sweet  hand  aud  held  it  to  his 
\\])S  some  moments  before  he  let  it  fall  again  and  raised  his 
head. 

''  We  shall  always  be  the  better  for  thinking  of  each  other." 
lie  said,  leaning  his  elbow  on  the  back  of  the  sofa,  and  su])port.- 
ing  his  head  as  he  looked  at  her  with  calm  sadness.  '-'This 
thing  can  never  come  to  me  twice  over.  It  is  my  knighthood. 
That  was  always  a  business  of  gi'c;it  cost." 

TFe  smiled  at  her,  but  she  sat  bitiiiLT  her  inner  lip.  and  ])ress- 
iiig  hiu-  hands  to^-ether.  She  de^ii'cd  to  be  worthy  oi  wiiat 
she  re\-ereiieed  in  l''clix,  but  the  inevitable  renunciation  was 
too  (lilUcr.it.      She  saw  herself  v.-auileriiT'  tJirouLi-h  the   future 


322  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   KxVDICAL. 

weak  and  forsaken.  The  charming  sauciness  was  all  gone 
from  her  face,  but  the  memory  of  it  made  this  childlike  de- 
pendent ,sorr(,)w  all  tlie  m(jre  touching. 

"Tell  nie  what  you  would  —  "  Felix  burst  out,  leaning  ne;irer 
to  her ;  but  the  ni-xt  instant  he  started  up,  went  to  the  table, 
took  his  cap  in  ids  hand,  and  came  in  front  of  her. 

•'  Good-by,"'  lie  said,  very  gently,  not  daring  to  put  out  his 
hand.  l>ut  Esth(;r  put  u})  hers  instead  of  s^jeaking.  lie  just 
pressed  it  and  tlicn  went  away. 

.She  heart!  the  dours  close  bcdiind  him,  and  felt  free  to  be 
miserable.  She  cried  bitt'-rly.  If  she  ijught  have  married 
Felix  Holt,  she  could  have  been  a  good  Vv-onuiu.  She  felt  no 
trust  that  sla;  could  en-er  lio  good  without  him. 

Felix  ]-epro;ichi'il  himsidi.  He  vrould  have  done  Ijetter  not 
to  speak  in  tbat  w;iy.  iWit  the  pr(;niptu!g  to  which  he  had 
chiefly  listeu'-'l  hjul  been  the  desire  to  iirovc,  to  I'lstlier  that  he 
set  a  high  valu(^  on  h(.'r  feelings,  lie  coidd  not  help  seeing 
that  he  was  veiy  ini|.)ortant  to  her;  and  he  v\-as  too  simple  and 
sincere  a  man  to  ajie  a  soil  of  humility  which  would  not  hnve 
made  him  any  tli''  belter  if  he  had  poss(\ssed  it.  Such  jire- 
tences  turn  our  li'\'es  into  sorry  dr;uii;is.  And  Felix  wisli' d 
Esther  t(j  kiKjw  that  her  love  was  (h_'ar  to  lilm  as  the  l)elov(;d 
dead  are  dear.  H''  felt  that  they  uiust  Jiot  m;irrv  -  -  lliat 
they  woiihl  I'liin  eaeli  ollier's  lives.  I  bit  he  had  loii'-j'cd  j'or 
her  to  k-iiev,-  i'elb,-  tij^t  Ids  v/ill  to  be  always  apart  ft'om  lier 
v.-a^s  vi'nii)iri:;ri'iii.  not  an  easy  ])r(d'er(/nee.  In  this  he  v.'as 
tii'»;'o'i;.ddy  -eia-riMis;  and  yet,  now  some  subtle,  mysterious 
con  iun'-rni-.'  <  ar  da|ir"Ssi<'ns  and  (di'cumstanees  h"d  ma.di/  liim 
sji'ak.  he  MU'.-n'aied  the  wisilmu  oi'  wdait  he  had,  dene.  Kx- 
]iress  .■DiH'  - -di'M-  ;d\a'  d-ilnireness  to  na/nKudes  that  inight 
mor('  :a;dl\'  na-li  awa\'  wiilaait  thejn  ;  and  J-'(dix  ftdt  f<jr 
Esth"'-"s  pain  a-  IJic  >\r(i]ij;  soldiiu",  who  can  niareii  on  hunifcr- 
iuLT  v.dl  hout  '■■o'liad  h"  .-hall  hdni .  1'  els  for  t  he  v< 'Un'.!;  bi'i  ijdiei 
—  the  niaidi-n-i-!ii:ck(,-d  conscript  wlujse  load  is  too  heavy  i'or 
Liiu. 


FELIX  iiULT,   'iiilJ   KADICAI..  323 


CHAPTER  XXXm 

Mischief,  thou  art  afoot. 

Julius  Ccp.sar. 

Felix  could  not  go  home  again  immediately  after  quitting 
Esther,  ile  got  out  of  the  town,  skirted  it  a  little  while, 
hooking  across  the  l)ecemb(!r  stillness  of  the  fields,  and  then 
re-entered  it  by  the  main  road  into  the  market-i)lace.  thinking 
that,  after  all,  it  would  be  better  for  him  to  look  at  the  busy 
doings  of  men  than  to  listen  in  solitude  to  the  voices  within 
him ;  and  he  wished  to  know  how  things  were  going  on. 

It  was  now  iiearly  half-]>ast  one,  and  Felix  perceived  that 
the  street  was  filliisg  with  more  tliaii  tlut  previous  crowd.  l\y 
the  riuie  he  got  in  fi'ont  of  the  bootlis,  he  was  himself  so  sur- 
rounded by  men  who  were  being  thrust  hither  and  thither  that 
retre;it  wovdd  have  been  im[)Ossible;  and  ho  went  where  he 
was  obliged  to  go,  although  liis  height  and  strength  wero 
above  the  average  even  in  a  crowd  where  there  were  so 
many  heavy-armed  woi'kmen  used  to  the  pickaxe.  Almost 
all  shabby -coated  Treiiiaus  must  have  ])een  thei'e.  but  the 
entries  and  back  streets  of  the  town  did  iiot  supply  the  mass 
of  the  crowd  :  and  besides  the  rurid  in-eomers,  both  of  the 
nuire  decent  and  the  rouglier  sort,  f'rlix,  as  lu^  was  pusiied 
along,  tiiitught  he  diseerued  h.ere  and  there  men  of  that 
keener  asoeet  wliicli  is  oidy  eonimoii  in  maTiuiacturing  towns. 

I>ut  at  present  there  Avas  no  eviileiiee  ot  ;ii!\'  dislinetlv  ]nis- 
eliievous  'lesi-'ii.  There,  wa^-  onlv  eviiicne-  that  th  ■  ma;(U-;tv 
of  tlie  (M'owd  wei'e  (-xeited  with  di'iiik.  ami  tliat  tia'ir  artieii 
could  hardly  be  eahmlated  on  na-re  tiaia  riiose  ,u'  (!Xe:i  aad 
])igs  congregated  aniidst  lumtijars  ainl  pushings.  'I'lie  ciniiased 
deafenin.g  siinnts.  tlie  iucideiu:al  iiglitiuL;".  t'le  knoel-:iie_;'  ever, 
pulling  and  siaitliiug.  setuued  tn  iii(a'ease  every  moment.  Slk-It 
of  the  constables  as  were  mixi-a  with  the  crow,]  weri  ouite 
helpless;  and  if  an  oiHcial  stai''  was  seen  above  tiie  heads,  it 


324  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL. 

moved  about  fitfully,  showing  as  little  sign  of  a  guiding  hand 
as  the  sunnuit  of  a  buoy  on  the  waves.  .L)oubtless  n^any  hurts 
and  bruises  had  been  received,  but  no  one  could  know  the 
amount  of  injuries  that  were  widely  scattered. 

It  was  clear  that  no  more  voting  could  be  done,  and  the  poll 
had  be(,'n  adjourned.  The  probabilities  of  serious  mischiei 
had  grown  strong  eiujugJi  to  prevail  over  the  iieetor's  (objec- 
tion to  getting  military  aid  within  I'cach ;  and  when  Felix  re- 
entered the  town,  a  gallo})ing  messenger  had  already  been 
despatched  to  Duliield.  The  iicetor  wished  to  ride  out  again, 
and  read  the  iJiot  Act  from  a  point  whcj'e  he  could  be  Ijetter 
heard  than  from  the  window  of  tin;  Marquis;  Ijut  Mr.  Crow, 
the  high  constable,  wlio  had  returned  from  chjser  (jb,-,ervation, 
insisted  that  the  risk  would  be  too  great.  ISew  special  con- 
stables had  been  sworn  in,  Ijut  Mr.  Crow  said  prophetically 
that  if  once  mischief  began,  the  mob  was  past  caring  for 
constables. 

But  the  Rect(jr"s  voice  was  ringing  and  penetrating,  and 
when  he  appeared  on  the  narrow  balcony  and  read  the  for- 
mula, c(jmmanding  all  men  t(;  go  to  their  homes  or  about  their 
lawful  business,  there  was  a  strong  transient  effecl.  E\-('ry 
one  within  heai'ing  listened,  and  for  a  few  moments  after  the 
linal  words,  'MJod  save  the  l\ingl"'  the  coiujjaratix'e  silence 
contiiuied.  Tlieii  the  peojtle  Ijegnn  to  nujve.  tlie  buzz  rose 
again,  and  grew,  and  gi'ew,  till  it  turm-d  to  shouts  and  roar- 
ing as  b(;fore.  'I'he  movem(-nt  w;is  tliat  of  a  ihxid  hennued  in; 
it,  f:arri(-d  nobody  away.  \\'heth"r  the  crfjwd  \voul(l  obey  tlic 
or(l(.'i'  t(j  dis])erse  themselves  witliin  ;iii  hour,  was  a  doul>t  that 
aj)])rf)a(died  n'-ar(;r  to  a  ni'ii:at)ve  ef'Viaiut\-. 

ri'eseii^ly  M  )■.  Cl'OW.  wl  in  ]l' ■!  d  ll  i  llisel  1'  ;i  f  ;u't  ieiau,  took  a  well 
iiit(Mitioneii  ste|).  wliieli  -A-cnt  i:\v  to  fullil  iii.-^  o^.'n  pi'opliecy. 
i  bj  bad  ;ii'riv.-d  witli  tlie  magistrates  \.,y  a  back  way  at  the 
,"M'ven  Stai's.  and  liei'i-  a,gain  the  lv,ioi.  Aet  was  i  cad  from  a 
window,  willi  miadi  tbe  same  resuit  as  before.  Tlie  bector 
liad  returned  Isy  lli"  same  way  to  the  Abirfjuis.  as  the  head- 
(|uaibers  most  suited  bu'  adnnnisti'ation.  ])ut  Mr.  Crow  re- 
uiained  at  the  (liluT  ey rronitv  of  Kiu"'  "^f ':'■'■*'.  '^diere  some 
awe-.-.ti-iking  pic-icncj  was  certainly  ueeaed.     .'^eeiiiu;   that  tJ'' 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  325 

)ime  was  passing,  ami  all  effect  from  tlie  voice  of  law  liad 
disappeared,  he  showed  himself  at  an  upper  window,  and  ad- 
dressed the  crowd,  telling  them  that  the  soldiers  had  been 
sent  for,  and  that  if  they  did  not  dispto'so  they  would  have 
cavalry  upon  them  instead  of  constables. 

]\Lr.  Crow,  like  some  other  high  constables  more  celebrated 
in  history,  "enjoyed  a  bad  reputation;"'  that  is  to  say,  he  en- 
joyed many  things  which  caused  his  reputation  to  lie  bad,  and 
he  was  any  tiling  but  popidar  in  Treby.  It  is  })robaijlr'  that  a 
pleasant  message  would  have  lost  something  from  his  lips, 
and  Avhat  lie  actually  said  was  so  unpleasant,  that,  instead  of 
persuading  the  crowd,  it  appeared  to  enrage  tliem.  iSome  one, 
snatching  a  raw  potato  from  a  sack  in  the  greengrocer's  shop 
behind  him,  threw  it  at  the  constable,  and  hit  him  on  the 
mouth.  Straightway  raw  potatoes  and  turnips  were  flying  by 
twenties  at  the  windows  of  the  Seven  Stars,  and  the  panes 
were  smashed.  Felix,  Avho  was  half-way  up  the  street,  heard 
the  voices  turning  to  a  savage  roar,  and  saw  a  rush  towai'ds 
the  hardware  sho]i.  whic'li  furnished  more  eifective  wea])ons 
and  missiles  than  turni[is  and  potatoes.  Then  a  cry  ran  along 
that  the  Tories  had  sent  for  the  soldiers,  and  if  those  among 
the  mol)  who  called  themselves  'I'ories  as  williiigly  as  anything 
else  were  disposed  to  tak''  wliatev(M'  called  itstdf  th<^  'bory  side, 
they  only  hel})e(l  the  mam  result  ef  reckless  disorder. 

Ihit  there  were  ]ii-nofs  that  the  ])r(Hh)niinant  will  of  the 
crowd  was  agairist  ••  Debarry's  men."  and  in  favcjr  of  '^Fran.- 
some.  Several  shops  wen'  invaded,  and  they  were  all  of  tluun 
'"Tory  sho])S.''  The  traalesmeii  who  could  do  so,  now  locked 
their  doors  and  barricaded  iheir  windows  within.  Tluu'e  was 
a  ])anic  among  the  householders  of  this  hitherto  peaceful  town, 
and  a  general  anxiety  for  the  military  to  ai'rive.  The  Kector 
was  in  j^ainfid  anxiety  on  this  head  :  he  had  sent  out  two  nu:>s- 
sengei's  as  seci'etK'  as  he  could  l(v,vards  I  Iathercott\  to  onler 
the  soldiei's  to  ride  sti'aight  to  the  town;  but  he  feared  that 
tlii'se  mr'sseuLrer-.  had  iieeii  soiui'how  iiitei-cei)t(>d. 

It  was  three  o'clock:  more  tliau  an  hour  had  elajised  since 
the  reading  of  the  Kiot  Act.  I'he  Rector  of  'I'reliy  ^bigna 
wrote    an    indi<j:nant    messatje    and    sent    it    tcj    the     bam.    te 


326  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

Mr.  Lingon,  the  Eector  of  Little  Treby,  saying  that  there  was 
evidently  a  Radical  animus  in  the  mob,  and  that  Mr.  Tran- 
some's  party  should  hold  themselves  peculiarly  responsible. 
Where  was  Mr.  Jermyn  ? 

Mr.  Lingon  replied  that  he  was  going  himself  out  towards 
Duftield  to  see  after  the  soldiers.  As  for  Jermyn,  he  was  not 
that  attorney's  sponsor  :  he  believed  that  Jermyn  was  gone 
away  somewhere  on  business  —  to  fetch  voters. 

A  serious  effort  vras  now  being  made  by  all  the  civil  force 
at  command.  The  December  day  would  soon  be  passing  into 
evening,  and  all  disorder  would  be  aggrcU'atod  by  obscurity. 
The  horrors  of  fire  were  as  likely  to  happen  as  any  minor  cvii. 
The  constables,  as  many  of  them  as  could  do  so,  armed  tliem- 
selves  with  carbines  and  sabres :  all  the  res})ectable  inhal)i- 
tants  who  had  any  courage,  prepared  themselves  to  struggle 
for  order;  and  many  felt  with  ^vlr.  Wace  and  ^Mr.  Tiliot  tliat 
the  nearest  duty  was  to  defend  the  breweries  and  the  s})irit 
and  wine  vaults,  where  the  property  was  of  a  sort  at  once 
most  likely  to  l)e  threatened  and  most  dangerous  in  its  efft'cts. 
The  Kector,  with  fine  determination,  got  on  hor>eback  again, 
as  the  best  mode  of  leading  tlie  constables,  who  could  oidy  act 
elticiently  in  a  close  body.  By  his  direction  the  column  of 
armed  men  avoided  the  main  street,  and  made  their  way  along 
a  liack  road,  that  they  might  occupy  the  two  cldef  lanes  lead- 
ing to  tlie  \\ine-vaulls  and  tlie  brewery,  and  bear  down  <m  the 
crowd  from  these  openings,  wliieh  it  was  especially  desirable 
to  guard. 

Ab^ainvliile  Felix  Tlolt  Jiad  l)een  hotly  occuiiied  in  King 
Street.  After  tlie  flr.^t  •vini]' .w-sni.-'shing  nt  tlie  S-v-n  Stars, 
there  was  a  sullicient  reason  lor  (bimaLring  that  inn  to  the 
utmost.  1'lie  destru(;tive  s])ii-it  tC'iids  towards  eonqileteness  ; 
and  any  object  once  luain.ed  or  otlierwisi'  injured,  is  as  readily 
doonu'd  by  uiireasoning  iii'-n  :is  by  unreasoniiiL;'  boys.  Also 
the  Seven  Stars  sheltei-ed  Si^ratt  ;  and  to  some  Sj)roxton  men 
in  front  of  that  inn  it  was  exasperating  that  Syiratt  should  be 
safe  and  sound  on  a  day  wlien  'blows  were  goimr.  and  justice 
might  be  rendere(l.  Aini  acrain.  tli'are  was  the  general  desirar 
I'leness  of  being  inside  a  j)ublic-nouse. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  827 

Felix  had  at  last  been  willingly  urged  on  to  this  spot. 
Hitherto  swayed  by  the  crowd,  lie  had  been  able  to  do  noth- 
ing but  defend  himself  and  keep  on  his  legs ;  but  he  foresaw 
that  the  people  would  burst  into  the   inn ;    he   heard   cries 

of  "  Spratt !  "  "Fetch  him  out  !  "  '■  A\'e  '11  pitch  him  out !  " 
"Pummel  him!"  It  v.'as  not  unlik(.'ly  that  lives  might  be 
sacrificed ;  and  it  was  intolerable  to  Felix  to  be  ^\■itnessing  tlie 
blind  outrages  of  this  inad  crowd,  and  yet  be  doing  nothing 
to  counteract  them,  lilven  some  vain  eii'ort  would  satisfy 
him  better  than  mere  gazing.  "Within  the  walls  of  the  inn 
he  might  save  some  one.  lie  went  in  with  a  miscelhineous 
set,  who  dispersed  themselves  with  different  objects  —  some 
to  the  tap-room,  and  to  search  fur  the  cellar;  some  up-stairs 
to  search  in  all  rooms  for  S[)i'att,  or  any  one  else,  perhaps,  as 
a  temporary  sca^iegoat  for  Spratt.  Guided  by  the  screams  of 
Avomen,  Felix  at  last  got  to  a  high  up-stairs  passage,  where  the 
landlady  and  some  of  her  servants  were  running  away  in  help- 
less terror  from  two  or  three  half-tipsy  men,  who  had  been 
emptying  a  spirit-decanter  in  the  bar.  Assuming  the  tone 
of  a  mob-leader,  he  cried  out.  "  Here,  boys,  hen^'s  better  fun 
this  way  —  come  with  me!"'  and  drew  the  men  back  with 
him  along  the  passage.  'I'hf'y  reacdicd  the  lowm'  staircase 
in  time  to  see  the  Tndia])])y  S])ratt  being  dragged,  coatless 
and  screaming,  down  tlu;  ste])s.  No  one  at  pi'esent  was  strik- 
ing or  kicking  him  :  it  seemed  ;is  if  he  ^^"('re  being  reserved 
foi'  ])unishment  on  some  A\-idiT  area.  Avhere  the  satisfaction 
might  be  more  generally  shai'cd.  Felix  foll"\\'ed  (d(.)se,  deter- 
mined, if  he  could,  to  I'cscni'  botli  assiiiliTs  and  assaulted  from 
the  worst  consequences,  liis  mind  was  busy  with  possible 
devices. 

Down  the  stairs,  out  along  the  .--tonrs  through  the  gatewav, 
S])]'att  Avas  dragcjed  as  a  mn-e  hcai'  of  linen  and  cdotli  rags. 
A\  hen  lie  was  got  ouVsidie  the  ^;it(  u:iy,  there  Avas  an  immense 
hooting  and  roaring.  thoii<4-li  maiiv  tliei-t'  had  no  grudge  against 
him.  and  ordy  guessed  that  others  JKid  the  grudge.  I'.ut  this 
was  the  narrower  ]iart  of  thio  sti'oet  :  it  Avidened  as  it  v/ont 
OUAvaivls,  aiul  Spi'att  Avas  dr;!',':-^  on.  his  enemies  crying, 
"We'll  make  a  ring  —  we'll  :- ■.•  how  frightened  he  looks!" 


328  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

"  Kick  him,  and  liave  done  with  him,"  Felix  heard  anothei 

say.  "  Let 's  go  to  Tiliot's  vaults  — there  's  more  gin  tliere  !  " 
Here  were  two  hideous  threats.  In  dragging  Spratt  onward 
the  people  were  getting  very  near  to  the  lane  leading  up  to 
Tiliot's.  Felix  kept  as  close  as  he  could  to  the  threatened 
victim.  He  had  thrown  away  his  own  stick,  and  carried  a 
bludgeon  which  had  escaped  from  the  liands  of  an  invadi'r  at 
the  Seven  Stars;  his  head  was  bare;  he  looked,  to  undiscern- 
ing  eyes,  like  a  leading  spirit  of  the  ni"b.  In  tlds  condition 
he  was  observed  by  several  persons  loi^lsing  ;inxioiisly  from 
their  upper  windows,  and  finally  (jbserved  to  push  himself,  by 
violent  efforts,  close  behind  the  dragged  man. 

]\reanwhile  the  foreniost  among  the  constables,  Vv-Iio,  coming 
by  the  back  way,  had  now  reached  tlie  opening  of  Tiliot's  Lane, 
discerned  that  the  crowd  had  a  victim  amongst  them.  One 
spirited  fellow,  named  Tucker,  who  was  a  regular  constable, 
feeling  that  no  time  was  to  be  lost  in  meditation,  called  on  his 
neighbor  to  follow  him,  and  with  the  sal)re  that  happened  to 
be  his  weapon  got  a  way  for  himself  where  he  was  not  ex- 
pected, by  dint  of  quick  resolution.  At  this  moment  Spratt 
had  been  let  go  —  had  been  dropjied,  in  fact,  almost  lifeless 
with  terror,  on  tlie  street  stones,  and  the  men  round  him  li;id 
retreated  for  a  little  space,  as  if  to  amuse  themselves  witli 
looking  at  him.  Felix  had  taken  his  ci]i}iortunity  ;  and  seinng 
tlie  lirsl  step  towards  a  ])lan  he  was  bent  on.  lie  sprang  I'or- 
w;n-il  elose  to  tht^  cowei'ing  Sjiratt.  As  lie  did  tliis.  'l"u' ker 
li;i(l  cut  his  wav  to  the  spot,  and  im;:giiiing  belix  to  be  llie 
ilestuiei]  executioner  of  SjUMtt  —  for  :\]\\'  diseiin;i!;ati(Ui  oi' 
Tuekei''s  kiy  in  liis  nniseles  rather  than  bis  tyes  —  lie  rushed 
up  to  I-'eii.K.  nieaiiiii;.;-  to  eolha'  him  and  tlii'ow  him  ibiwu.  ISut 
Felix  had  rajiid  senses  and  quiek  tliomrht--':  he  discei'ned  the 
situation  :  lie  eliose  lyi'tween  two  evii>.  (Juiek  as  lightning  he 
frust.rated  the  ('oustal)le.  fVll  u])on  him.  and  tried  to  niastev 
his  wea])on.  In  the  sti'U'^gle.  which  was  wadidied  Avi'lioul  in- 
tei'fei'enee.  the  cou'dable  fell  undermost,  and  I'ldix  got  his 
w<'a])on.  He  stailei]  up  ^vith  tin'  bai'e  sabi'e  in  hi.->  hand.  The 
crov.'d  I'ound  him  cried  ■■  Uuit;'}  '  ""  with  a  seu-'e  that  he  was 
on   their   side    against    tic    c-nda.ble.      'backer    did    not    rise 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  329 

Immediately ;  but  Felix  did  not  imagine  that  lie  was  much 
hurt. 

"  Don't  touch  him  !  "  said  Felix.  ''  Let  him  go.  Here,  bring 
Spratt,  and  follow  me." 

Feiix  was  perfectly  conscious  that  he  was  in  tLc  n;iil-'.t  of  a 
tangled  business.  But  he  had  chiffly  befort;  his  imaginaiii'ii 
the  horrors  that  might  come  if  the  mass  of  wild  chaotic  desires 
and  im[)ulses  around  him  were  not  diverted  iroii;  any  further 
attack  on  places  wher;^  ili^'y  would  get  in  Llie  nutlst  of  intoxi- 
cating and  inflamniiibM'  in;:';-  I'iab-.  It  was  not  a  m(jment  in 
which  a  spirit  like  his  ceukl  calculate  the  effect  of  misuuder- 
standing  as  to  himsfvli  :  nature  never  makes  men  who  are  at 
once  energetically  sympathetic  and  minutely  calculatiii,;-.  He 
believed  he  had  the  power,  and  he  was  resolved  to  try,  tu  carry 
the  dangerous  mass  out  of  mischief  till  the  military  cauiC  to 
awe  them  —  which  he  supposed,  from  Mr.  Crow's  auiiounce- 
ment  long  ago,  must  bo  a  near  event. 

He  was  followed  the  more  willingly,  because  Tiliot's  lano 
was  seen  by  the  Inndmost  to  be  now  defended  by  i-unsta/bles, 
some  of  whoin  had  firearms  ;  and  where  there  is  no  strong 
counter-movement,  any  i)roposition  to  do  something  unspeci- 
fied stinudates  stupid  curiosity.  To  many  of  the  Sproxton 
men  who  were  within  sight  of  him.  b^_dix  was  known  per- 
sonally, and  vaguely  believ(Hl  to  be  a  man  wlio  meant  many 
(jueer  things,  not  at  all  of  an  every-day  kind,  dressing  along 
like  a  leader,  with  the  sabre  in  his  hand,  and  inviting  tluMU  to 
brnig  on  Spratt,  tliere  seemed  a  better  reason  for  following 
him  than  for  doing  anytliing  (dse.  A  man  witli  a  deliniti'  will 
and  an  energetic  personality  aets  as  a  sort  of  flag  to  dr;i\N  and 
l.nnd  together  the  foolish  units  of  a  niol).  ft  was  on  this  s.irt 
of  inrtuenee  over  men  whose  mental  state  ',\-;is  a  mei'-  medley 
of  ap}ietites  and  confused  im]ii-es,-^i()n,>.  tli:it  belix  li.id  :lai"'d 
to  count.  lie  hurried  tlieni  ;iiiiiig  w'tli  Wdi'ds  of  in\'italio;i. 
telling  them  to  hold  U])  Sjiratt  iind  not  drau'  liim  :  and  those 
behintl  folhjwed  him,  with  a  -Miwin^'  l»elit4'  that  lie  had  sone- 
de:-ign  worth  knowing,  while  ijios,.  iu  front  were  urL;-ed  ahuiu;' 
partly  hy  the  same  nori(Mi.  oarrly  by  the  sensi^  thnl  tin  re 
was  a  motive  iu  those   behind  them,  not  knowin;^    what  thj 


330  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

motive  was.  It  was  that  mixture  of  puslung  forward  and 
being  puslied  forward,  wliich  is  a  brief  Ijistory  of  most  liuman 
things. 

Wliat  Felix  really  intended  to  do,  was  to  get  tln^  crowd  b}' 
the  nearest  way  out  C)f  the  town,  and  indu(;e  tlipm  tD  skirt  it 
on  the  north  side  with  him,  keeping  up  in  them  the  idea  that 
he  was  leading  them  to  execute  some  slraUigvui  by  wliii/li  they 
would  surprise  something  wortli  attai:l;ing,  and  circumveMit 
the  constables  who  were  defending  tlie  lanes.  In  the  mean 
time  he  trustt-d  that  the  soldiers  would  havt;  arrived,  and  with 
this  Sort  of  mob  which  was  animated  Iw  nu  real  ])olitical  })as 
sion  or  fury  against  social  distinctions,  it  was  in  the  highest 
degree  unlikely  tliat  there  would  be  an\'  rL^i.-^tanci.'  to  ;;  jjdli- 
taiy  foi'ce.  The  pn'sence  of  lifty  soldici's  would  })roi_Kibly  be 
enough  to  scatter  the  rioting  hundreds.  1I()V\'  nuuKrous  the 
nu>\)  was.  no  one  ever  knew:  many  inliabltaiits  afterwards 
were  reajly  to  swear  tLcit  there  iruist  have  bei-n  at  k-ast  two 
thousand  I'ioters.  Felix  knew  he  vras  incttrring  great  risks ; 
but  '-his  blood  was  up  : "'  we  hardly  allow  enough  in  common 
life  for  the  results  of  that  enkindled  passiojude  eid'husiasm 
which,  under  other  conditions,  nudves  world-famous  deeds. 

He  was  making  lor  a  jtoint  where  the  street  l)ranched  off 
on  one  side  towards  a  speedy  o]iening  between  hedgerows,  on 
the  otlier  towai'ds  the  sliabln'  wideness  of  Pollard's  Ihid.  At 
tliis  lorkiiig  of  the-  street  there  Avas  a  large  space,  in  the 
centi'e  of  which  thei'e  was  a  small  stone  jdatforia.  m<.<anLing 
by  tlii'eM-  steps,  witli  an  old  gre.^n  ilnger-post  Ujion  it.  Felix 
Went  straight  tn  tlii^  jilatfi 'i-m  and  stepped  u]ion  it,  crying 
'•'Halt!"  in  a  haid  voice  to  the  men  behind  and  before  hi n^ 
and  calling  to  those  wlu)  htdd  Sj.radt  to  bri:ig  him  there.  All 
came  to  a  stand  witii  laces  Towards  the  liiiger-])ost,  and  per- 
ha}»s  for  ill''  tii'st  time  the  extremities  of  the  crowd  got  a 
defnnti'  idea  tliat  a  man  ^vith  a  sabre  in  his  hand  was  taking 
the  cranmand. 

'•'Xow!"  said  Felix,  when  Spratt  liad  been  broiiglit  on  to 
the  stone  ))latform.  faint  and  tiendoiing.  '-lias  anj/body  got 
cord  ?  if  not,  liandk'-i-clii.-fs  kn-ti".'  f';i..st  ;    '_rive  tl)em  to  me." 

He  drew  out  Im,  own  Lanaii-er-jjuef,  uud  two  or  three  others 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  331 

were  mustered  and  handed  to  him.  He  ordered  them  to  bo 
knotted  together,  while  curious  eyes  wert^  hxed  on  him.  Was 
he  going  to  have  tSpratt  hanged  ?  Felix  kept  fast  hold  of  his 
weapon,  and  ordered  others  to  act. 

"Now,  put  it  round  his  waist,  wind  his  arms  in,  draw  them 
a  little  backward  —  so  !  and  tie  it  last  on  the  other  side  of 
the  post." 

When  that  Avas  done,  Felix  said,  imperatively  — 

"Leave  him  there  —  we  shall  c(jme  back  to  him;  let  us 
make  haste  ;  march  along,  lads  !  Up  Park  Street  and  down 
Hobb's  Lane."' 

It  was  the  best  chance  he  could  think  of  for  saving  vSpratt's 
life.  And  he  succeeded.  Tlie  }(leasure  of  seeing  the  lielpless 
man  tied  up  suiiiced  for  the  moment;  if  tliere  were  any  who 
had  ferocity  enough  to  count  much  on  coming  back  to  him. 
Nobody's  imagination  represented  the  certainty  that  some  one 
out  of  the  houses  at  hand  would  soon  come  and  untie  him 
when  he  was  left  alone. 

And  the  rioters  pushed  up  Park  Street,  a  noisy  stream, 
with  Felix  still  in  the  midst  oi'  them,  though  lie  was  laboring 
hard  to  get  ]iis  way  to  the  fi'ont.  He  wished  to  determine 
the  course  of  tlie  ci'owd  along  a  by-road  called  Ilobb's  Lane, 
which  would  liave  taken  tliem  to  the  other  —  thi;  Dullield  end 
of  the  town.  He  urged  several  of  tlu^  ukmi  round  him.  one 
of  whom  was  no  less  a  jierson  than  tlie  Itig  Dre(''ge,  our  old 
Sjiroxton  acfpiaintanee,  to  get  ibrward.  and  be  sure  that  all 
the  fellows  woiihl  go  down  the  lane,  else  they  Avould  Sjioil 
sport.  Hitherto  I'elix  had  been  sucees^l'iil.  and  he  had  gone 
along  with  aTi  unhroken  iiuimlsr-.  I'.iit  soon  somethiiig  oc- 
curred whi(di  brought  with  a  tiTiai-le  shock'  the  sense  that  his 
])lan  mi^'ht  tn.iai  out  to  be  as  mad  as  all  l.told  jirojects  are  seen 
to  lie  when  they  ]i;ive  failed. 

]Mingh-d  with  the  more  Ica-lhaig  and  half-drunken  crowd 
there  were  some  shar])-vi^a'4t•d  men  who  loved  the  irrati(.)n- 
ality  of  riots  for  something  ebe  limn  its  own  sake,  and  who 
at  preser.t  were  not  >o  much  the  j-ieher  as  they  desired  to  be, 
for  the  pains  th'^y  had  taken  in  I'dminL;'  to  the  Trebv  election, 
induced   by   certain   prognostics    gathered   at    Duliu  Id    on    the 


332  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL. 

nomination-day  that  there  might  be  the  conditions  favorable 
to  that  contusion  which  was  always  a  harvest-time.  It  was 
known  to  some  of  these  sharp  men  that  Park  Street  led  out 
towards  the  grand  house  of  Treby  ^Nlanor,  which  was  as  good 

—  nay,  better  for  their  purpose  than  the  bank.  "While  Felix 
was  entertaining  his  ardent  purpose,  these  other  sons  of  Adam 
were  entortai)iing  another  ardent  piu'pose  of  their  peculiar 
sort,  and  the  moment  was  come  when  they  Avere  to  have  their 
tiiumph. 

From  the  front  ranks  backward  towards  Felix  there  ran  a 
new  summons  —  a  new  invitation. 

"  Let  us  go  to  Treby  ]\[auor  ! '' 

From  that  moment  Felix  was  powerless  ;  a  new  definite 
suggestion  overrode  his  vaguer  influence.  There  was  a  deter- 
mined rush  past  Hobb's  Lane,  and  not  down  it.  Felix  was 
carried  along  too.  lie  did  not  know  whether  to  wish  the 
contrary.  ()nce  on  the  road,  out  of  the  town,  with  openings 
into  fields  and  with  the  wide  park  at  hand,  it  would  have 
heen  eas}^  for  him  to  liberate  liimself  from  the  crowd.  At 
first  it  seemod  to  him  the  better  })art  to  do  this,  and  to  get 
back  to  the  town  as  fast  as  he  could,  in  the  hope  of  finding 
the  milit;iry  and  getting  a  detachment  to  come  and  save  the 
]\Ianor.  IJut  he  reflecteil  tliat  the  course  of  the  mol)  had  been 
sntllciently  seen,  and  that  there  were  ]i|enty  of  jieople  in 
I'ark  Street  to  carry  the  inforniati(Mi  faster  tliaii  lie  could.  It 
Seemed  more  necessarv  that  he  should  secure  tlie  ])resence  of 
Some  lirli)  for  tlie  family  at  the  Maimr  by  going  there  him- 
self. Til''  Debarrvs  were  not  of  the  class  lie  was  wont  to  be 
an.xious  ;ibout  :  but  Felix  Holt's  conscience  was  alive  to  the 
accusation  Ihar  anv  danger  they  might  be  i!i  now  was  brought 
on  by  a  dc-d  ,,[  ]\\^.  In  these  moments  of  l)itter  vexation  and 
disa}ii)niin  iii.'iif.  it  liiil  (jcimr  to  him  tliat  \'ery  unpleasant  con- 
sequences i:i:.rlit  be  hanuang  over  him  of  a  kind  quite  different 
from  inwanl  di.-sat  isl'action  ;  but  it  was  useless  now  to  think  of 
avei'tinLr  siicli  i'onsi'qui'uces.  As  he  was  nr(>ssed  along  with  the 
multitude  into  Tn^by  i'ark.  his  vmy  niovtunent  seemed  to  him 
onlv  an  image  nf  t1ie  day's  fatalities,  in  Avhich  the  multituili- 
loiis  small  wickednesses  oi'  sniali  seliish  ends,  really  undirected 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  333 

towards  any  larger  result,  had  issued  in  widely  shared  mis- 
"^hief  that  might  yet  be  hideous. 

The  light  was  declining  :  already  the  candles  shone  through 
many  windows  of  the  Manor.  Already  the  foremost  part  of 
vhe  crowd  had  burst  into  the  offices,  and  adroit  men  were  busy 
n  the  right  places  to  find  plate,  after  setting  others  to  force 
^he  butler  into  unlocking  the  cellars  ;  and  Felix  had  onl}'  just 
Deen  able  to  force  his  way  on  to  the  front  terrace,  with  the 
Slope  of  getting  to  the  rooms  where  he  would  find  the  ladies 
of  the  hotisehold  and  comfort  them  with  the  assurance  that 
rescue  must  soon  come,  when  the  sound  of  horses'  feet  con- 
vinced him  that  the  rescue  was  nearer  than  he  liad  expected. 
Just  as  he  heard  the  horses,  lie  had  approached  the  large 
window  of  a  room,  where  a  brilliant  light  suspended  from  the 
ceiling  showed  him  a  grottp  of  women  clinging  together  in 
terror.  Others  of  the  crowd  were  pushing  their  way  up  the 
terrace-steps  and  gravel-slopes  at  vaiious  })oiiits.  Hearing  the 
horses,  he  kept  liis  post  in  front  of  the  window,  and,  motion- 
ing with  his  sabre,  cried  out  to  the  on-comers,  '•  Keep  back  I 
I  hear  the  soldiers  coming."'  Some  scrambled  back,  some 
paused  automatically. 

The  louder  and  louder  sound  of  the  hoofs  changed  its  pace 
and  distribution.  "Halt!  Fire!"  T^ang !  bung  I  bang!  — 
came  deafening  the  cars  of  the  men  on  tlie  terrace. 

Before  tliey  had  time  or  nerve  to  move  tliei'e  was  a  rushing 
sound  closer  to  tlinn  —  again  •'Fi)'e!"a  bullet  whizzed,  and 
]:asst>d  through  Felix  Holt's  sboulder  —  tlii-  slioulder  of  the 
arm  that  held  the  naked  weupon  which  shone  in  the  liglit 
from   tht^  window. 

Felix  fell.  Tlu^  I'ioters  ran  eonfuseilly.  like  terrifn^d  sheep 
Some  of  the  sohli(M's.  turniie::.  di'ove  tliimi  along  witli  the  fla.t 
or  their  swords.  Tlie  greater  tliUleulty  was  to  clear  the  in- 
vaded offiees. 

The  Pu'ctor.  who  with  anothei-  magistrate  and  s(>veral  of]u-v 
gentlemen  on  horseliack  luul  nd'omjiaiiied  tlie  soliliru's,  now 
jumped  on  to  the  terrace,  ami  hurried  to  the  ladies  of  tlie 
family. 

Presently  there  was  a  grou])  round   Felix,  who  had  fainted, 


334  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

and,  reviving,  had  fainted  again.  He  had  had  little  food  dur- 
ing the  (lay,  and  had  been  overwrought.  Two  of  the  group 
were  civilians,  but  only  one  of  them  knew  I'elix,  the  other 
being  a  magistrate  not  resident  in  Treby.  The  one  who  knew 
Felix  was  ^Ir.  John  Johnson,  whose  zeal  for  the  public  peace 
had  brought  him  from  JJutfield  when  he  lieard  that  the  soldiers 
were  summoned. 

'•I  know  this  man  very  Avell,"'  said  Mr.  Johnson.  "He  is  a 
dangerous  character  —  quite  revolutionary."' 

It  was  a  weary  night ;  and  the  next  day,  Felix,  whose  wound 
was  declared  trivial,  was  lodged  in  Loamford  Jiul.  There 
were  three  charges  against  him  :  that  he  had  assaulted  a  con- 
stable, that  he  had  committed  manslaughter  (Tucker  was  dead 
from  npinal  concussion),  and  that  he  had  led  a  riotous  on- 
slaught on  a  dwellingdiouse. 

Four  other  men  were  committed:  one  of  them  for  possess- 
ing himself  of  a  gold  cup  with  the  I)eV)arry  arms  on  it .;  the 
three  others,  one  of  whom  was  the  collier  Dredge,  for  riot  and 
assault. 

Thnt  morning  Treby  town  was  no  longer  in  terror  ;  but  it 
was  in  much  sadness.  Other  men.  move  innocent  than  the 
liated  Spratt,  were  groaning  under  severe  bodily  injuries. 
And  ])oor  Tucker's  corpse  was  ]U)t  the  only  on'^  that  had  been 
lifted  fi'om  tlie  pavement.  It  is  true  that  none  grieved  much 
for  tlie  other  dead  man,  unless  it  be  grief  to  s;iy.  '•  J*oor  old 
fellow  1  '"  lie  had  been  tram])led  u])on.  doubtless,  where  lie 
fell  drankenly,  near  the  entrance  of  the  Se^'en  Stars.  This 
second  eorjise  was  old  Tommy  I'l'ouuseni,  the  1)ill-stiekt'r  — 
otherwise  Thomas  Transome,  the  last  of  a  very  old  family- 
Hue. 


l-'l.[  ;  \     U  MlM'i   !■     IN    Till-:     liUJl. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  335 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

The  fields  are  hoary  with  December's  frost. 

I  too  luii  hoary  with  tlio  chills  of  age. 

But  through  the  lields  uiid  throagli  the  untrodden  wooda 

Is  rest  autl  stillness  —  only  in  my  heart 

The  pall  of  winter  shrouds  a  tlirobbing  life. 

A  WEEK  after  tliat  Treby  riot,  Harold  Transome  was  at  Tran. 
some  Court.  He  had  returned  from  a  hasty  visit  to  town  to 
keep  his  Christmas  at  this  delightful  country  home,  not  in  the 
best  Christmas  spirits.  He  had  lost  the  eleetion ;  but  if  that 
had  been  his  only  annoyance,  ho  had  g(.)od  huntor  and  good  sense 
enough  to  have  borne  it  as  well  as  most  men,  and  to  have  paid 
the  eight  or  nine  thousand,  which  Iiad  been  the  price  of  ascer- 
taining tli:it  he  was  not  to  sit  in  the  next  Parliament,  without 
useless  grumbling.  But  the  disappointments  of  life  can  never, 
any  more  than  its  pleasures,  be  estimated  singly  ;  and  the 
healthiest  and  most  agreeable  of  men  is  exposed  to  that  coinci- 
dence of  various  vexations,  each  heightening  the  effect  of  the 
other,  which  may  produce  in  him  something  corres})On(ling  to 
the  spontaneous  and  externally  unaccountable  moodiness  of  the 
morbid  and  disagreeable. 

Harold  might  not  have  grieved  much  at  a  small  riot  in  Treby, 
even  if  it  had  caused  some  (Expenses  to  fall  on  the  count}';  but 
the  turn  which  the  riot  had  ;ictually  t:d<:en  wris  a  bitter  morsel  for 
rumination,  on  nu)re  grounds  than  ono.  However  the  disturb- 
aners  had  arisen  and  been  aggravated  —  and  probably  no  one 
knew  tlie  whole  truth  on  tlicse  ])oints  — the  conspicuous,  grav- 
est in(udents  had  all  tend(^d  to  tlii'ow  the  blame  on  the  Padical 
party,  tliat  is  to  say,  on  Transome  and  on  Transome's  agents  ; 
and  so  far  the  candidateship  and  its  results  had  done  Harold 
dislionor  in  the  county :  precisely  the  opposite  effect  to  that 
wldcli  was  a  dear  object  of  liis  aml)ition.  IMore  than  tliis, 
Harold's  conscience  was  active  enough  to  be  very  unijleasantly 
affected  by  what  had  befallen  Felix  Holt.     His  memory,  always 


336  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

good,  was  particularly  vivid  in  its  retention  of  Felix  Holt's 
complaint  to  him  about  the  treating  of  the  Sproxton  men,  and 
of  the  subseq^uent  irritating  scene  in  Jermyn's  office,  when  the 
personage  with  tlie  inauspicious  name  of  Johnson  liad  expounded 
to  him  the  impossibility  of  revising  an  electioneering  scheme 
once  begun,  and  of  turning  your  vehicle  back  when  it  had 
already  begun  to  roll  downhill.  Kemembering  Felix  Holt's 
words  of  indignant  warning  about  hiring  men  with  drink  in 
them  to  make  a  noise,  Harold  could  not  resist  the  urgent  im- 
pression that  the  offences  for  which  Felix  was  committed  were 
fatalities,  not  brought  about  by  any  willing  co-operation  of  his 
with  the  riotei's,  Ijut  arising  probably  from  some  ill-judged 
eftorts  to  counteract  their  violence.  And  this  impression, 
which  insisted  on  growing  into  a  conviction,  became  in  one  of 
its  phases  an  uneasy  sense  that  he  held  evidence  which  would 
at  once  tend  to  exonerate  Felix  and  to  place  liimself  and  his 
agents  in  anything  but  a  desirable  light.  It  was  likely  that 
some  one  else  could  give  equivalent  evidence  in  favor  of  Felix 
—  the  little  talkative  Dissenting  preacher,  for  example  ;  but, 
anyhow,  th*'  alfair  with  the  Sproxton  men  would  be  ripped  open 
and  made  tln'  worst  f>f  by  the  opposite  parties.  The  man  wlio 
has  failed  in  the  use  of  sonre  indirectness,  is  helped  very  little 
by  the  fact  that  his  rivals  are  men  to  whom  tliat  indirectness 
is  a  something  human,  very  far  from  being  ali'm.  There  re- 
mains this  grand  ilistiuction.  that  he  has  failed,  and  that  the 
jet  of  light  is  thrown  rntirely  on  his  misdoings. 

In  this  malter  Haruid  b-lt  himself  a  victim.  Cnuld  he  hin- 
der the  trirks  of  his  a;-rents '.'  In  this  pai'ticul.'ir  case  he  had 
trifd  to  hinder  tliem.  and  liad  ti'ifd  in  vain.  He  h;id  not  loved 
the  two  agents  in  fpiestion.  to  be<,rin  with;  and  now  at  this 
later  stai^e  of  events  lu'  was  more  innocent  than  ever  of  bearing 
them  anytliin',^  liut  the  most  sineei'e  ill-v>"ill.  He  was  more 
utterly  ex::s|:rratt'd  with  ihem  than  he  would  probably  have 
been  if  his  rim'  i_,n'e;it  passion  had  lieen  foi-  ]iub]ic  virtue.  Jrv- 
myn,  with  liis  .roLn  .Johnson,  had  added  this  ugly  dirty  busi- 
ness of  th'  M'reby  ch'r-i  icin  to  all  lie'  loie.r-Tffnimulatim,'  list  of 
offfuces.  wliitdi  Hai'old  was  I'e 'n'ved  to  visit  on  him  to  the  ut- 
most.    He  had  seen  some  handbills  carrying  the  insinuation 


FELIX   HOLT,    'rilE   RADICAL.  33T 

that  there  was  a  discreditable  iiidebtness  to  Jermyn  on  the  part 
of  tlie  Transomes.  If  any  such  notions  existed  apart  from 
electioneering  slander,  there  was  all  tln'  more  reason  for  letting 
the  world  see  Jermyn  severely  punished  for  abusing  his  power 
over  the  family  affairs,  and  tampering  with  tin-  family  property. 
And  the  world  certainly  should  see  this  with  as  litti-.*  delay  as 
possible.  The  cool  confident  assuming  fellow  should  be  bled 
to  the  last  drop  in  compensation,  and  all  connection  with  him 
be  finally  got  rid  of.  Now  that  the  election  was  done  with, 
Harold  meant  to  devote  himself  to  private  affairs,  till  every- 
thing lay  in  complete  order  under  his  own  supervision. 

This  morning  he  was  seated  as  usual  in  his  private  room, 
which  had  now  been  handsomely  fitted  up  for  him.  It  was 
but  the  third  morning  after  the  first  Christmas  he  had  sjjcnt 
in  his  English  home  for  fifteen  years,  and  the  home  looked  like 
an  eminently  desirable  one.  The  white  frost  lay  on  the  broad 
lawn,  on  the  many-formed  leaves  of  the  evergreens,  and  on 
the  giant  truths  at  a  distance.  Logs  of  dry  oak  blazed  on  the 
hearth  ;  the  carpet  was  like  w;'.rm  moss  under  his  feet ;  he 
had  breakfasted  just  according  to  his  taste,  and  he  had  the  in- 
teresting occupations  of  a  large  proprietor  to  fill  the  morning. 
All  through  the  house  now,  sti'ps  were  noiseless  on  carpets  or 
on  fine  matting  ;  there  was  warmth  in  hall  and  corridors  ;  there 
were  S(>rvants  enough  to  do  evei'vthing,  and  to  do  it  at  the 
right  time.  Skilful  Dominic  was  always  ;;t  !:au;l  to  meet  his 
master's  demands,  and  his  lilaml  ]iiesenc.'  dilVused  iisi'lf  like  a 
smile  over  the  household,  infecting  the  glomny  English  mind 
with  the  belief  that  life  was  easy,  and  making  his  re:il  preduiui- 
nance  seem  as  soft  and  light  ;is  a,  down  quilt.  Old  Mv.  Tran- 
sonic had  gathered  new  courage  and  strength  since  little  Harry 
ami  l^ominic  had  come,  and  since  Harold  had  insisted  on  his 
tiiking  drives.  Mrs.  Transonic  liersell'  was  seen  on  a  fresh 
background  witli  a  gown  of  rich  new  stuff.  .Vnd  it',  in  s[iite  of 
tills,  slic  did  not  seem  happy,  llarolil  eitlier  did  no1,  (ibsm've  it, 
or  kindly  ignored  it  ;is  the  iiccos'ii-y  frailty  of  ehha-ly  \\-omeu 
wliose  lives  ha\-e  had  too  nuadi  of  duliiess  and  jirivatioii.  Our 
minds  g'd  (ritdvs  and  attitude.-  ;i-  our  bddies  do.  tliouglit  Har- 
old, and  age  stifi-cns  them  into  unaltei'ableness.      'vL^Gi-r  na/thor! 


838  FELIX   HOLT,    llIE   RADICAL. 

I  confess  I  should  not  like  to  be  an  elderly  woman  myself. 

One  requires  a  good  deal  of  the  purring  cat  for  that,  or  else  of 
the  loving  graudame.  I  wish  she  would  take  more  to  little 
Harry.  I  suppose  she  has  her  suspicions  about  the  lad's 
mother,  and  is  as  rigid  in  those  mattei's  as  in  her  Toryism. 
However,  I  do  what  I  can ;  it  would  be  difficult  to  say  what 
tiiero  is  wanting  to  her  in  the  way  of  indulgence  and  luxury  to 
make  up  for  the  old  niggardly  lile." 

And  certainly  Transonic  Court  was  now  such  a  home  as 
many  women  v.'ould  cuvrt.  Yet  even  Harold's  own  satisfac- 
tion in  the  midst  of  its  eh'gant  comftu-t  needed  at  present  to 
be  sustained  by  the  expcctiition  of  gratiiied  rcseiitmeiit.  He 
was  obvicusly  less  brig'ht  and  enjoying  than  nsu;,!.  [ind  his 
inotlipr.  who  watched  him  i/loscly  wi'Iiout  da.riug  tn  aslc  (pies- 
tions.  liad  gatliered  liiists  an<l  di-a^-n  iniercnct.'S  'niougli  to 
makf  her  feel  sure  that  there  wa>>  some  storm  gathering  be- 
twetui  him  and  Jermyn.  Siie  did  not  (hire  to  ask  questions., 
and  yet  ^ht*  laid  not  resisted  tlie  tem[itation  to  say  something 
bitter  abnnt  Harold's  failure  to  get  returned  as  a  liadieal, 
helping,  with  femiinne  self-defeat,  to  exclude  herself  more 
(;omplett'ly  from  any  consultati(m  l)y  him.  In  this  way  poor 
women,  wliosi'  power  lies  solely  in  tli-ir  influence,  makt.'  them- 
selves like  nnisic  out  of  tune,  and  only  mcjvc  men  to  run 
away. 

This  moi'iiing  llaroh!  liad  order('d  his  letters  to  be  brought 
to  him  at  the  ]ire;d\fast-iable,  which  was  not  his  u>ual  ])i'actii'e. 
His  mother  coujil  see  iliat  tliei-e  were  London  luisiiie.ss  letters 
about  which  he  v.'as  eager,  and  she  had  fmnid  out  tliat  the 
letter  brouglit  by  a  clerk  the  day  before  was  tu  mak*;  an  ap- 
pointment with  Harold  b)r  Jermyn  to  cone  to  I'ransomc 
(Jourt  at  ele\-en  this  moiaiing.  SIhj  observed  Hai'old  swallow 
his  coffee'  and  pn.^h  away  his  ])lat"  with  an  e;irlv  ai)st  I'action 
from  the  busin".-s  of  ln'-ald'ast  which  was  not  at  all  after  his 
usual  manner.  S;;e  herself  ate  nethini^^:  her  sips  of  tec 
seemed  to  excite  ho'r  .  hei'  (dieeks  llu^h^■d.  and  her  hands  were 
colli.  She  was  stiil  young  and  ai'dcnt  in  her  terrors;  the 
passi(ms  of  the   past    wei'c   living  in   her  dread. 

When  Harold  left  tlu;  table  sic  went  into  the  long  drawing- 


FELIX   HOLT,    TIIL    KADICAL.  839 

room,  where  she  anight  r«>]ieve  lior  restlessness  by  walking  up 
and  down,  and  catch  tlic  sound  of  Jcrmyn's  entrance  into 
Harold's  room,  which  was  close  by.  Here  she  moved  to  and 
i'l'o  amongst  the  rose-colored  satin  of  chairs  and  curtains  — 
the  great  sLory  of  this  world  reduced  for  her  to  the  little  tale 
of  her  own  existence  —  tlull  obscurity  everywhere,  except, 
where  the  keen  light  fell  on  the  narrow  track  of  her  (jwn  h^t, 
wide  only  for  a  woman's  anguish.  At  last  she  heard  the  ex- 
pt'cted  ring  and  fool>te'p,  and  the  opening  and  closing  door. 
L'nable  to  walk  about  any  longer,  she  sank  into  ;i  large 
cushioned  chair,  helj)less  aiul  pray<'rii_'ss.  She  was  not  think- 
ing of  God's  anger  (.>r  mercy,  but  of  hov  son's.  She  was 
tiiiukiug  of  what  might  be  brought,  not  by  death,  but  by  life. 


CHArXER  XXXV. 

M.   Check  to  your  qnceii ! 

iV.  Nay,  your  "wn  kiiiL''  is  bare, 

And  IlloviiiL^  so,  you  ^Ixi'  ydUf.-olC  rhcrkiiiatf'. 

"NVuKV  dormyii  entered  the  room,  IbiroM.  who  was  seated 
at  his  lilunry  t;ibl''  examining  ]);i]iers,  with  liis  back  towards 
ilio  light  ai^d  hi-^  ,I';".-e  towaj-ds  the  door,  movi-d  his  head  coldly. 
dcrmyn  said  an  ungraciotis  "'(lood  inorniu;-;"  —  as  litlh'  as 
possd)lc  like  ;l  ;-aln;aiioii  to  one  wliD  mi'^lit  I'c^-ard  liimsclf  as 
a  patron,  (hi  th"  a  i  (caaicv's  handsome  lace  there  was  a  black 
(doud  of  dtdi.uit  ilefaaiiiiiat  ion.  :di'.di!ly  starlliiig  to  Uaroh!, 
whn  had  expecteil  (o  [^rl  iiial  tlie  over] loweiaiig  Widght  of 
tenijser  in  the  iu;,er\dew  was  on  his  own  side.  Xobody  was 
ever  ])re]>ared  l)cioi'(diaii't  for  tlds  expression  of  Jermyn's 
face.  whi(di  seenieil  a.>  stroiigh'  contrasted  with  tic  cold  im- 
])eiietrableness  winch  he  preserved  under  the  orilinaiw  annoy- 
aiices  of  business  as  with  the  bland  radiance  of  his  liglitei 
ruomeuts. 


o-iO  FELIX    HOLT,    THE   JIADICAL. 

Harold  himself  did  not  look  amiable  just  then,  but  hin  a:-j,->Hr 
was  of  the  sort  that  seeks  a  veut  without  Avaiting  to  give  a 
fatal  blow  ;  it  was  that  of  a  nature  more  subtly  mixed  than 
Jermyn's  —  less  animally  forcible,  less  unwavering  in  selfish- 
ness, and  with  more  of  high-bred  pride.  He  looked  at  Jermyn 
with  increased  disgust  and  secret  wonder. 

"  Sit  down,"'  he  said,  curtly. 

Jermyn  seated  himself  in  silence,  opened  his  great-coat,  and 
took  some  papers  from  a  side-pocket. 

"I  have  written  to  ^[akepiece,"  said  Harold,  "to  tell  him 
to  take  the  entire  manag^'ment  of  tiie  election  expenses.  So 
you  will  transmit  your  accounts  to  him." 

"Very  well.     I  am  come  this  morning  on  other  business." 

"If  it's  about  the  riot  and  the  prisoners,  I  Iiave  only  to  say 
that  I  shall  enter  into  no  plans.  If  I  am  called  on,  I  shall 
Siiy  what  I  know  about  that  young  fellow  Felix  Holt.  Peo])le 
ma}'  prove  what  they  can  about  Johnsou'o  damnable  tricks,  or 
yours  either." 

"  I  am  not  come  to  speak  about  the  riot.  I  agree  with  you 
in  thinking  that  quite  a  subordinate  subject."  (When  Jermyn 
had  the  black  cloud  over  his  face,  he  never  hesitated  or 
drawled,  and  nuide  no  Latin  cpiotations.) 

"  V>v  so  good,  then,  as  to  open  your  business  at  once,"  said 
Harolil.  in  a  tone  of  imperious  indiifercnee. 

'■  Tliat  is  precisely  wiiat  I  wisli  to  do.  I  have  here  infor- 
mation from  a  London  correspi  indent  that  you  are  about  to 
llh'  a  I'ill  against  m-'  i::  Cliancery."  JiM'uiyn.  as  he  spoki'. 
laii]  liis  liand  on  ilie  ];ai)ers  Ijel'orc  iiim.  aiiii  lo'>kt'd  straight  at 
Harold. 

"Ill  that  f'-^",  the  question  foi- you  is,  Iioav  la.r  your  conduct 
as  the  fa.:a :':;>■  .solicitor  will  bcai'  in\'est  igat  ion.  lUit  it  is  a 
question  wl^'-ii  you  will  considi'i'  quite  apart  from  me."' 

'•'Doubtless.  l'>ut  jirior  to  that  there'  is  a  (juestion  which  v."C 
must  cousidiU'  to'j-ether." 

The  tone  in  wliicli  .lennyn  said  this  gave  an  uiq)leasant 
shock  to  Harold's  srn-^i'  of  mastery.  AV;i>  it  ])0ssible  that  he 
ifhould  have  the  wenjion  wrenched  cmt  of  his  Iiaiid  ? 

"I    shall    know    what    tu    think    of     that,""    he    replied,    as 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE  EADICAL.  341 

haughtily  as  ever,  "  when  you  have  stated  what  the  ques- 
tion is." 

''  Simply^  whether  you  will  choose  to  retain  the  family  estates, 
or  lay  yourself  open  to  be  forthwith  legally  deprived  of  them. 

^'  I  presume  you  refer  to  some  underhand  scheme  of  your 
own,  on  a  par  with  the  annuities  you  have  drained  us  by  in 
the  name  of  Johnson,"  said  Harold,  feeling  a  new  movement 
of  anger.  '•'  If  so,  you  had  better  state  your  scheme  to  ]ny 
lawyers,  Dymock  and  llalliwell." 

"■  Xo.  I  think  you  will  ajiprove  of  my  stating  in  your  own 
ear  first  of  all,  that  it  de^xuids  on  my  will  whether  you  remain 
an  important  landed  proprietor  in  North  Loamshire,  or  wliether 
you  retire  from  the  county  with  the  remainder  of  the  fortune 
you  have  acquired  in  trade." 

Jermyn  paused,  as  if  to  leave  time  for  this  morsel  to  be 
tasted. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  said  Harold,  sharply. 

"Not  any  scluMue  of  mine  ;  but  a  state  of  the  facts,  result- 
ing from  the  settlrmfiit  of  the  estate  made  in  1729 :  a  state  of 
the  facts  which  renders  your  fathri-"s  title  and  your  own  title 
to  the  family  estates  utterly  worthless  as  soon  as  the  true 
claimant  is  made  a\vai'e  of    his   right."' 

''•'And  vou  intend  to  iufonu  liini  '.'"' 

'"'That  de[)ends.  L  aiii  tlic  only  person  wlio  lias  the  requi- 
site knowledge.  It  rests  with  ^you  to  decide  whether  T  slii'll 
use  that  knowledge  against  you  ;  or  wluMhei-  1  shall  use  it  in 
your  favor  —  by  putting  an  end  to  the  evidence  that  would 
serve  to  oust  you  in  sjtite  of  your  •  robust  title  of  occu}Kiucy." "" 

Jermyn  paused  again.  Ite  had  been  spt^iking  slowly,  hut 
without  the  least  hesitation,  and  with  a  bitter  di^iiniteness  of 
eiumciation.  There  was  a  moment  oi'  two  before  Harold 
answered,   and   then   he   said   abruptly  — 

'•  I  don't  believe  you." 

"I  thought  you  W(U'e  more  shr(M\"d."  said  Jermvn.  with  a 
toueh  of  seorn.  "I  thought  you  understood  that  I  Iiad  had 
to(j  nnudi  experience  to  waste  iwy  time  in  ttdling  tallies  tii  ])er- 
suadt^  a  man  wlio  has  put  hlmsrlf  into  the  attitude  of  my 
deadly  enemy." 


342  FELIX  HOLT;    THE   RADICAL. 

"  Well,  then,  say  at  once  what  your  proofs  are,"  said  Harold, 
shaking  in  spite  of  himself,  and  getting  nervous. 

"  I  have  no  inclination  to  be  lengthy.  It  is  not  more  than 
a  few  weeks  since  I  ascertained  that  there  is  in  existence  an 
heir  of  the  Bycliffes,  the  old  adversaries  of  your  family.  More 
curiously,  it  is  only  a  few  days  ago  —  in  fact,  only  since  the 
(lay  of  the  riot  —  that  the  Bycliife  claim  has  become  valid,  and 
tliat  the  riglit  of  remainder  accrues  to  the  licir  in  question." 

"And  how,  pray?"  said  Harold,  ri.sing  from  liis  chair, 
and  making  a  turn  in  the  room,  with  liis  liaiids  thrust  in  Ids 
por-kets.  Jermyu  r(js(,'  t<J0,  and  stood  near  tla;  Iii/artl),  facing 
Harold,  as  he   moved  to  and   fro. 

"  y^y  tlie  death  of  an  old  fellow  who  got  drunk,  and  was 
tramph^d  to  death  in  the  riot,  fie  was  the  last  of  that  Thomas 
Transome''s  line,  by  the  purchase  (jf  whose  interest  your  fanuly 
got  its  title  to  tlie  estate.  Your  title  died  with  him.  It  was 
supposed  that  the  line  had  become  extinct  before  —  and  on 
that  supposition  tlje  old  ]>ycliffes  fonndrd  their  claim.  But 
I  hunted  up  tliis  man  just  about  the  time  tln^  last  suit  was 
closed.  His  death  wotild  liav  be'^n  oi'  no  conserpii'uce  to  you 
if  there  had  not  been  a  Bycliffe  in  existence  ;  l)ut  I  h;ippeu  to 
know  that  there  is,  and  that  the  fact  cfin  be  Irgally  I'l-oN'ed." 

For  a  miimte  oi'  two  TIaiold  did  not  speak,  but  c"ntiiiued  to 
])acr'  the  rfiom.  \\hile  Jeianyn  l-fpt  his  ])0sit;()n.  In. Ming  his 
hainbs  beliind  him.  At  last  Hai'old  said,  fr(jm  the  (^thcr  end 
of  \]\f  ]■()<)]:].  s]ie;ikiir.''  in  a  seoiailul  tone  — 

'■'Tliat  sounds  ala.iauing.  I'lUt  it  is  iKjt  1o  be  i)i-()ved  simply 
])y  ynui'  st;'|.-iiient." 

'•  ( 'li'ai-ly.  I  liave  hei'e  a  document,  with  a  copy  which  will 
l)ack  my  sta1:em^'nt.  It  is  the  o|iinion  '.riviai  <mi  thr.  case  more 
than  twenty  yc.ivri  w^o.  and  it  beai's  the  signattire  of  the 
Attorney-' Ifiicial   and   ihi-   tirst  convcyancri'  of  the  day." 

Jermyn  tool:  no  tiic  oajicrs  Ik;  had  laiil  (Ui  the  table.  o]-)en- 
ing  them  slov.dy  and  cwoil;,-  a^s  he  went  on  speaking,  and  as 
Harold  advanc'd  inwards  hini. 

"You  may  >n.p!)0  >■  tliil  we  spared  no  ])ains  to  ascei'tain  the 
staffs  of  tlie  tille  ia  -lie  ImsI  suit  a-'ainst  .Mauric"  Ch;'istian 
I'yidiffe,  which  tlircat'in'd  to  be  a  iiard  run.     This  documeut 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  343 

is  tlie  result  of  a  consultation ;  it  gives  an  opinion  wliicli  must 
be  taken  as  a  final  authority.  You  may  cast  your  eyes  ovei 
tliat,  if  you  please;  I  will  wait  your  time.  Or  you  may  read 
the  summing-up  here,"  Jermyn  ended,  liolding  out  one  of  the 
papers  to  Harold,  and  pointing  to  a  iin^il  passage. 

Harold  took  the  paper,  with  a  slight  gesture  of  impatience. 
He  did  not  clioose  to  obey  Jermyn's  indication,  and  coniiiio 
himsLdf  to  the  summing-up.  He  ran  througli  the  document. 
But  in  truth  he  was  too  nuicli  excited  really  to  follow  the 
details,  and  was  rather  acting  than  reading,  till  at  length  he 
threw  himself  into  his  cliair  and  consented  to  bend  his  atten- 
tion on  tlie  passage  to  whicli  Jermyn  had  j)ointed.  The 
attorney  watched  him  as  he  read  and  twice  re-read  :  — 

'•  To  siuu  up  .  .  .  we  are  of  opinion  that  tlie  title  of  the  present 
possessors  of  the  Transome  estates  can  be  strictly  proved  to  rest  solely 
upon  a  base  fee  created  under  the  oriLriual  settlement  of  17l'9,  and  to 
be  good  so  long  oidy  as  issue  exists  of  the  tenant  in  tail  by  whom  that 
base  fee  was  created.  We  feel  satistuMl  by  the  evidence  that  such 
issue  exists  in  the  jierson  of  'i'lioinas  Pransoiiie.  otlnTwise  Trounscni, 
of  Littli'shaw.  Ihit  upon  his  decease  without  issue  we  are  of  opinion 
that  the  ri^'ht  in  remainder  of  the  Ijycdiifi'  family  will  arise,  which 
right  would  not  he  liai-!-<Ml  l>y  any  staUiti'  of  linulation." 

When  Harold's  ey(\s  were  on  tlie  signatures  to  this  document 
for  the  third  lime,  Jei'myn  said  — 

'•  As  it  turned  out,  tlie  ease  being  (dosed  l)y  tlie  deatli  of  the 
claimant,  we  had  no  oeeasion  for  jiroducing  'i'liomas  I'raiisome, 
who  was  the  old  fellow  I  tell  you  of.  The  inquii'ies  about  ]\\\iL 
set  him  agog,  and  after  tliey  wei'C  dropjied  he  came  into  tliis 
neighborhood,  tliinhing  tiiere  was  something  line  in  store  i'or 
him.  Hei'C,  if  you  like  to  take  it.  is  a  mei'ioi'andum  about 
him.  T  repeat  that  he  died  in  ilie  riot.  The  jn-ooi'  is  readv. 
And  1  re]it^it.  tb.at,  to  my  knowiiMl--''.  ami  mine  only,  th.ere  is 
a  I'yeliffe  in  existence;  and  that:  I  know  how  the  pi'oof  can  be 
made  out." 

Harcdd  rose  from  liis  chair  aL'-ain.  and  again  ])ace(]  the  room. 
He  was  not  ]U'e])ared  witli  any  deii  inee. 

••Ami  wdiere  is  he  —  tliis  r>ye!irr.' :' "'  lie  sa,id  at  last,  stop- 
ping in  his  walk,  and  facing  round  towards  Jerniyu. 


344  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"I  decline  to  say  more  till  you  promise  to  suspend  proceed- 
ings against  me." 

Harold  turned  again,  and  looked  out  of  the  window,  with- 
out speaking,  for  a  moment  or  two.  It  was  impossible  that 
there  should  not  be  a  conflict  within  him,  and  at  present  it 
was  a  very  confused  one.     At  last  he  said  — 

"This  person  is  in  ignorance  of  his  claim?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Has  been  brought  up  in  an  inferi(jr  station  ?  " 

"Yes,"  said  Jermyn,  keen  enough  to  guess  part  of  ivhat  was 
going  on  in  Harold's  mind.  "  There  is  no  Jiarin  in  leaving  him  in 
ignorance.  Tlie  question  is  a  purely  legal  one.  And,  as  I  said  be- 
fore, the  complete  knowledge  of  the  case,  as  one  of  evidence,  lies 
exclusively  with  me.  I  can  millify  the  evidence,,  or  I  can  make 
it  tell  with  certainty  against  you.     The  c])oice  lies  with  you." 

"  I  must  have  time  to  think  of  this,"  said  Harold,  conscious 
of  a  terrible  pressure. 

"  I  can  give  you  no  time  unless  you  promise  me  to  suspend 
proceedings." 

"And  then,  when  I  ask  you,  you  will  lay  the  details  before 
me  ?  " 

"Not  without  a  thorough  understanding  beforehand.  If  I 
engage  nc-t  \o  use  my  knowledge  against  you,  you  must  engage 
in  writing  tliat  on  being  satisded  ])y  the  details,  you  will  can- 
f;el  all  hostih^  ])roceedings  against  me.  and  will  not  institute 
iVesh  ones  on  tin;  strength  of  any  occurreneos  uoav  past." 

"  Well,  I  must  have  time,"  said  Harold,  more  thnu  ever  in- 
rlined  t(j  tlii'ash  the  attoiaiey,  ]jut  feeling  bound  hand  and  bjot 
with  knots  1ha.t  he  was  not  sure  he  could  ever  unfasten. 

"That  is  to  say,"  said  Jermyn.  witli  his  black  Iji'owed  per- 
sistence,   '-you  Avill    widte  to  suspend    proc(!e(lin,Lcs." 

Again  Harold  paused.  He  was  more  tban  ever  exasperated, 
]jut  he  Avas  threatened,  moi'jiied.  aiid  ('onfounded  bv  the  ne- 
cessity for  an  immediati'  deeisioii  between  alternatives  almost 
equally  hateful  to  him.  It  was  with  ditiitultv  that  he  (tould 
])revail  on  himseli'  to  s])eak  any  eonclusive  words.  He  walked 
as  far  as  he  couhl  fi-(un  .baanyn  ---  to  tlie  other  end  of  tlie  room 
■ — then  walked  baidv   t(;   liis   chair   and   tlirew   Iiimself   inf.c;    it. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  345 

At  last  he  said,  without  looking  at  Jermyu,  "  I  agree  —  I  must 
have  time." 

"Very  well.     It  is  a  bargain." 

"No  further  than  this,"  said  Harold,  hastily,  flasliing  a  look 
at  Jermyn  —  "  no  further  than  this,  that  I  require  time,  and 
tlierefore  I  give  it  to  you." 

•'  ()i'  course.  You  require  time  to  consider  whetlier  tiie 
pleasure  of  trying  to  ruin  me  —  me  to  whom  you  are  really 
indebted  —  is  worth  the  loss  of  the  Transonie  estates.  —  I 
shall  wish  you  good  morning." 

Harold  did  not  speak  t(j  iiim  or  look  at  him  again,  and  Jer- 
myn walked  out  of  the  rocun.  As  he  a})peared  outside  the 
door  and  closed  it  behind  him,  ^Irs.  Transonic  sliov/ed  her 
white  face  at  another  door  which  o])ened  on  a  level  witli  Har- 
old's in  such  a  way  that  it  was  just  possible  for  Jermyn  not  to 
see  her.  He  availed  himself  of  that  possibility,  and  walked 
straight  across  the  Ih'ill,  where  tlien'  was  no  servant  in  attend- 
ance to  let  him  out,  as  if  he  believed  that  no  one  was  looking 
a,t  hun  wlio  could  exjiect  recngnition.  FTe  did  not  want  to 
spc^ak  to  ^Irs.  Trnns-(inie  at  [)res(Mit ;  he  had  notliijig  to  ask 
frr)m  htM",  and  one  disagreeable  interview  had  hevu  enough  for 
him  tliis  morning. 

She  was  c(aivinced  tliat  lie  had  avoided  her.  and  she  was 
too  ])roud  to  arrest  him,  She  was  as  iiisigiiific;int  wow  in 
!iis  eyes  as  in  her  son's.  '']\!en  have  nc)  nifUUMies  in  their 
iH'iirts."  she  said  to  herself,  bitterly.  Tuiaiing  into  lun'  sitting- 
room,  she  heard  the  voices  of  Mr.  Transom*'  and  little  Harry 
ut  play  together.  She  would  have  given  a  ^a-ep.t  deal  at  this 
moment  ii'  liei'  feeble  lnisb:;nd  had  not  a.lway's  liv(>d  in  di-ead 
of  lier  temper  and  her  tyranny,  p,o  that  he  might  ha\'e  been  bnul 
of  her  now.  She  felt  liei'self  loveless;  if  she  wa^  important 
to  uuy  one,  it  waa  only  to  her  old  waiting-woman  Deuuer. 


346  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 


CHAPTER  XXXVL 

Are  these  things  then  necessities  ? 
Theu  let  us  meet  them  like  necessities. 

SiiAKKSPEARE  .-ilenry  IV. 

See  now  the  virtue  living  in  ri  word  ! 
Hobsou  v.ill  thinli  of  swearing  it  was  noon 
"When  he  saw  Duljson  at  the  May-day  fair. 
To  prove  pour  I)ol)son  did  not  roK  the  mail, 
'T  is  neighborly  to  save  a  neiglil>nr's  neck  : 
What  harm  in  lying  when  you  mean  no  harm* 
But  say  't  is  perjury,  tlien  Ilobsoij  quakes  — 
He  "11  none  of  perjury. 

Tims  ^\■ords  emljalm 
The  conscience  of  numkind  ;  am:  IJonian  laws 
Bring  still  a  conscience  to  j)oor  Iloijson's  aid. 

Few  men  vroiUd  have  felt  otherwise  tlian  Harohl  Transome 
felt,  if.  having  a  revorsion  tantamount  to  possession  of  a 
fine  estate,  carrying  an  association  with  an  ohl  name  and 
eonsi(]t'ral)h'  social  im|tortance.  tlicy  were  siuhlcnly  ini'ormed 
that  there  was  a  person  who  had  a  legal  right  to  deprive 
tliem  of  these  advantages;  tluit  iiorson's  ri^rlit  Laving  ivver 
hoen  eont(nn]>lated  by  an.y  one  as  moro  tlian  a  (-iiar.ce.  ;;nd 
heing  fpiit''  unknown  to  himself.  In  ordinary  casts  a  sh-  i1or 
jiossession  than  Harold's  family  h;id  enjoyoil  v/us  uliowod 
hy  the  liiAv  to  constitute  an  indofoasibh'  ih.rl;t  :  and  if  in  i;;re- 
and  jtocidio.r  instanci's  the  hiw  L-ft  the  i)o:.s''-s(-*r  of  a  long 
inhei'itanco  exjiosed  to  depi'ivation  as  a  conseiiuence  of  old  oli- 
Sfairo  transact  i<ins.  t]i(^  moral  n-asons  tor  giving  legal  validity 
to  the  title  ol'  long  oc(a;|ianoy  woi'o  not  1I10  le^s  strong.  Xo- 
hody  would  Lavo  said  that  Harold  was  oouti'I  t(;  hunt  out  this 
alleged  re]iiainilei--nrin  and  ni-Lro  his  ia'_;ht-  upon  hiin  :  on  the 
contrary,  all  the  ^vorld  woidd  have  l::;!^;;,.,]  ;it  such  conduct. 
and  he  would  have  l)e(Mi  thon'ght  an  iht ei'esl ing  ])atient  for  a 
mad-doctor.  'Idie  unconscious  i'eiiiaii,.!tU'-inari  Avas  proljaldv 
aiuch  better  off  left  in  bis  orio-inal   station  :   Harold  would   3iot 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  347 

have  been  called  upon  to  consider  his  existence,  if  it  had  not 
been  presented  to  him  in  the  shape  of  a  threat  from  one  who 
had  power  to  execute  the  threat. 

In  fact,  what  he  wouhl  have  done  had  the  circumstances 
been  different,  was  nuich  clearer  than  what  he  should  choose 
to  do  or  feel  himself  compelled  to  do  in  the  actual  crisis.  He 
would  not  have  been  disgraced  if,  on  a  valid  claim  being  urged, 
he  had  got  his  lawyers  to  fight  it  out  for  him  on  the  chance  of 
eluding  the  claim  by  some  adroit  technical  management.  No- 
body off  the  stage  could  be  sentimental  about  these  things,  or 
pretend  to  shed  tears  of  jo}'  because  an  estate  was  handed  over 
from  a  gentleman  to  a  mendicant  sailor  with  a  wooden  leg. 
And  this  chance  rcmaindcr-nian  was  perhaps  some  such  speci- 
men of  inheritance  as  the  drunken  fellow  killed  in  the  riot. 
All  the  world  would  think  the  actual  Transomes  in  the  right 
to  contest  any  adverse  claim  to  the  utmost.  But  then  —  it 
was  not  certain  that  they  would  win  in  the  contest ;  and  not 
wiiuiing,  they  wcidvl  incur  other  loss  l)esides  that  of  the  estate. 
There  had  been  a  little  too  much  of  such  loss  already. 

But  why,  if  it  were  not  wrcjng  to  contest  the  claim,  should 
he  feel  the  most  uncomfortable  scruples  al)ont  robbing  the 
claim  of  its  sting  by  getting  rid  of  its  evidence?  It  was  a 
itK^rtal  disappointment  —  it  was  a  sacriiice  of  indemnification 
—  to  absta.in  from  punishing  Jermyn.  lUit  even  if  he  brought 
his  minil  to  cont<'!n})latc  that  as  the  wiser  course,  he  still  shrank 
''roll!  what  lookctl  like  complicity  v  ith  .Ji-rm^-n  ;  he  still  shrank 
from  the  secret  nullili-ation  of  a  just  legal  claim.  If  he  had 
ouly  known  the  (h 'tails,  if  he  bad  known  who  this  alleged 
iieir  was,  he  might  have  seen  his  way  to  some  course  that 
would  not  have  grated  on  his  sense  of  Imuor  and  dignity.  But 
.rermyn  had  been  too  acute  to  L  t  H;iroi(l  knov/ tliis  :  he  had 
eveu  carefully  kept  to  the  mascu!iae  i»roiioan.  And  he  be- 
lieved that  there  was  no  one  besiil.s  himself  who  wiadd  or 
could  make  Harold  any  wiser.  ![,■  went  home  persiueled  lliat 
between  ^his  interview  and  tlie  i.  xi  which  they  would  have 
together,  :^larold  would  be  leir  to  ;in  inward  (lel)ate.  founded 
fMitirely  on  tlie  in. foiTaation  he  liiuiscjf  had  given.  And  he 
had  not  nuicli  doubt  that  the  result  would  be  what  he  desired. 


348  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

Harold  was  no  fool :  there  were  many  good  things  lie  liked 

better  in  life  than  an  irrational  vindictiveness. 

And  it  did  happen  that,  after  writing  to  London  in  fulfilment 
of  his  pledge,  Harold  spent  many  hours  over  that  inward  debate, 
whii-li  was  not  very  diff(n'ent  from  what  Jern.nrn  imagined. 
He  look  it  every  when'  with  him,  on  foot  and  on  horseback, 
and  it  was  his  eom}iaiiirin  through  a  great  deal  of  the  niglit. 
His  nature  was  not  of  a  kind  given  to  internal  eontlict,  and  he 
had  never  before  been  long  undecided  and  puzzled.  This  un- 
accustomed state  of  mind  was  so  painfully  irksome  to  him  — 
he  reiielled  so  im})atiently  against  the  0})pression  of  circum- 
stances in  whii;h  his  quick  temperament  and  habitual  decision 
could  not  lielp  him  —  that  it  added  tenfold  to  lii<  Iiatred  of 
Jermyn,  who  was  the  cause  of  it.  And  thus,  as  tli^  tempta- 
tion to  avoid  all  risk  of  losing  the  estate  grew  and  irrew  till 
scruples  looked  miiuito  by  the  side  of  it,  tlu;  ditticulty  of  bring- 
ing himself  to  make  a  compact  with  Jermyn  seemed  more  and 
more  insurmountable. 

But  we  have  seen  that  the  attorney  was  much  too  confident 
in  his  calculations.  And  while  Harohl  was  being  gulled  by 
his  subjection  to  Jermyn's  knowledge,  indepeinlent  informa- 
tion was  on  its  way  t(j  him.  The  mes^engei-  w:ts  Christian, 
wlio.  after  as  complete  a  survi-y  of  probabilities  as  lir  was  ('a])a- 
lile  of.  had  eome  to  the  conclnsidn  tliat  the'  most  profitable 
inve.-tuK'Ut  he  could  make  of  his  p^'culiar  expei'i.'nc'  aiel  tes- 
timony inr>'l;aion  t<i  liyclilTe  and  Hy.'liffe's  danglii  it.  was  to 
]i]ae(_'  tliem  at  tlie  disposal  of  Harold  'I'rauMinie.  He  was 
afraid  (A'  Jerinyn :  lie  utierly  distrust-'d  Johnnm  ;  bu1  he 
tuouglit  he  v.-;!s  secure  in  relying  on  Ibimld  'J'i'ans(;me's  cai'e 
for  his  own  interi^st;  and  lie  ])re{erred  above  all  issues  the 
prospcet  01  forlliwitli  leaving  tlie  counti-y  witli  a  sum  that  at 
least  for  a  good  wliile  would  ]mt  him  at  his  ease. 

When,  fmly  tliree  mornings  after  tlie  interview  with  Jermyn, 
])ominie.  ojn'ncd  the  door  of  Harold's  sitting-room,  and  said 
tliat  ''iNleester  Cdii'orst ian."'  ^h\  I'ldlip  Deiiarry's  courier  ;ind 
an  acciuaintaiiee  ol'  his  own  at  Xaple.-.  refjuesfed  to  lie  admit- 
ted on  Ijusiness  of  imj)ortance.  Ibtrold's  immediate  thouglit 
wao  that  the  business  referred  to  the  so-called  politieal  affairs 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  349 

which  were  just  now  his  chief  association  with  the  name  of 
Debuny,  tliough  it  seemed  an  oddness  requiring  explanation, 
that  a  servant  slioukl  be  personally  an  intermediary.  He  as- 
sented, expecting  something  rather  disagreeable  than  otherwise. 

Christian  wore  this  morning  those  perfect  manners  of  a  sub- 
ordinate who  is  not  servile,  which  he  always  adopted  towards 
his  unquestionable  si;periors.  Mr.  Debarry,  wiio  preferred  hav- 
ing some  one  about  him  with  as  little  resemblance  as  possible 
to  a  regular  servant,  had  a  singular  liking  for  the  adroit,  quiet- 
mannered  Christian,  and  would  have  been  amazed  to  see  the  in- 
solent assumption  he  was  capable  of  in  the  presence  of  people 
like  Mr.  Lyon,  who  were  of  no  account  in  society.  Christian 
had  that  sort  of  cleverness  vrliich  is  said  to  '■'  know  the  world  " 
—  that  is  to  say,  he  knew  the  })rice-currcnt  of  most  things. 

Aware  that  he  was  looked  at  as  a  messenger  while  he  re- 
mained standing  ne;ir  the  door  with  his  hat  in  his  hand,  he 
said,  with  respectful  ease  — 

"You  will  probably  be  surprised,  sir,  at  my  coming  to  s])eak 
to  you  on  my  own  account;  and,  in  I'act.  I  coidd  not  have 
thought  of  doing  so  if  my  business  did  not  hup])en  to  be  some- 
thing of  more  importance  to  you  than  to  any  one  (dse." 

"You  dun't  come  from  ]\lr.  Debarry,  then?"  said  Harold, 
with  some  surprise. 

"No,  sir.  ^ly  business  is  a  secret ;  and,  if  you  ])lease,  must 
remain  so." 

"Is  it  a  pledge  you  ai'c  demanding  from  me  ?  "  said  Harold, 
rather  sus}iicinusly,  having  no  ground  lur  courulcnce  in  a  man 
of  ChristiaiTs  position. 

"Yes,  sir;  1  am  obligt'd  to  ask  no  less  than  that  you  will 
pledge  yourself  not  to  take  ^Ir.  dfrmyn  into  cunlidence  con- 
cerning wliat  })asses  betweni  us." 

"Willi  all  my  heart,"  said  Harold,  something  like  a  gleam 
passing  over  his  lace.  His  cii'eulat  iun  had  become  more  rapid. 
"  l->ut  \\'hat  have  you  had  to  do  Vv-ilh  Jermyn  ?  -' 

"  He  has  not  mentioned  me  to  you  then  —  has  he,  sir  ?  " 

"]S'o;  certainly  not  —  never."' 

Christian  tliougliL.  ■•  Aha.  Mr.  JerTnyn!  you  are  keeping  the 
secicc  uell.  are  you  /  ''      He  said,  aloud  — 


350  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"Then  Mr.  Jermyn  has  never  mentioned  to  you,  sir,  what 
I  believe  he  is  aware  of  —  that  there  is  danger  of  a  new  suit 
being  raised  against  you  on  the  part  of  a  Bycliffe,  to  get  the 
estate  ?  " 

*'AhI''  said  Harold,  starting  up,  and  placing  himself  with 
his  back  against  the  mantel-piece.  He  was  electrified  by  sur- 
prise at  the  quarter  from  which  this  information  was  coming. 
Any  fresh  alarm  was  counteracted  by  the  flashing  thought  tliat 
he  might  be  enabled  to  act  independently  of  Jermyn  ;  and  in  the 
rusli  of  feelings  he  could  utter  no  more  than  ;in  interjection. 
Cliristian  concludiul  that  Harold  had  had  no  ])revious  hint. 

"  It  is  this  fact,  sir,  that  I  came  to  tell  you  of." 

"  From  some  other  motive  than  kindness  to  me,  I  presume/' 
said  Harold,  with  a  slight  approach  to  a  smile. 

"  Certainly,"  said  Christian,  as  quirtly  as  if  he  liad  been 
stating  yesterday's  weather,  "I  should  not  have  the  folly  to 
use  any  affectation  Avith  you,  IMr.  Trarisome.  I  lost  consider- 
able property  early  in  life,  and  am  now  in  the  receipt  of  a 
salary  simply.  In  the  affair  I  have  just  mentioned  to  you 
I  can  give  evidence  which  will  turn  tlie  scale  against  you.  I 
have  no  wish  to  do  so,  if  you  will  make  it  worth  my  while  to 
leave  the  countiw."' 

Harold  listened  as  if  he  had  been  a  legendary  hero,  selected 
for  peculiar  solicitation  by  the  Evil  Cue.  Here  was  teinjila- 
tion  in  a  more  alluring  i'lirm  Ihan  belong  because  it  was  sweet- 
ened by  the  prosiiccfc  of  eluding  dcrniyu.  lUit  the  desire  to 
gain  time  served  all  the  jjurposes  ol'  caiitiou  and  resistance, 
and  his  indiiT"j-eiiee  to  the  speidvcr  in  this  e;ise  helped  liim  to 
pr(!Serv(!  peri'ect  self-conunand. 

"You  aj-e  aware,'"  he  said,  coolly,  ''that  sihuice  is  not  a 
commodity  woitli  ]au-chasing  uidess  it  is  loaded.  Thei't'  are 
many  ])ersoiis,  1  dare  sa}',  who  would  like  mc  to  ])ay  tludr 
travelling  expensi  s  for  th.ni.  V.ut  tln'v  might  hardly  be  able 
to  show  me  that  it  was  woi'th  my  while."' 

"You  wish  ni(;  to  sVaU'  what  1  know  '.'  "' 

"Well,  that  is  a  necessary  prtdimiuaiy  to  any  further  con- 
versation." 

"I  think  you  will  see.  Mi',   '["ransome,  that,  as  a  matter  of 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  351 

justice,  the  knowledge  I  can  give  is  worth  something,  quite 
apart  from  my  future  appearance  or  non-appearance  as  a  wit- 
ness. I  nuist  take  care  of  my  own  interest,  and  if  anything 
should  liiiider  you  from  choosing  to  satisfy  me  for  taking  an 
essential  witness  out  of  the  way,  I  must  at  least  be  paid  for 
bringing  you  tiie  information." 

'•  (.'an  you  tell  me  Avho  and  where  this  Bycliffe  is  ?  " 

'- 1  can." 

"  —  And  give  me  a  notion  of  the  whole  affair  ?  " 

'Yes  :  I  have  talked  to  a  lawA-er  —  not  Jermyn  —  who  is  at 
the  bottom  of  the  law  in  the  affair." 

'■  You  must  not  count  on  any  wish  of  mine  to  suppress  evi- 
dence or  remo\'e  a  witness.  But  name  your  price  for  the 
informrition." 

'•  In  that  case  I  must  be  paid  the  higher  for  my  information. 
Say,  two  thousand  pounds.*" 

^' Two  thousan.d  devils!"  burst  out  Harold,  throwing  him 
self  into  his  chaii'  again,  and  turning  his  shouhuu-  towards 
Christian.  New  thonglits  e!-(.)wded  upon  him.  "This  fellow 
may  want  to  decan>p  for  soie.e  I'eason  or  other."  he  said  to  him- 
Se'lf.  "Alore  pedple  besiees  Jcianyn  know  aboiit  his  evidence, 
it  se{'ms.  The  whole  tiling  may  look  bhick  for  me  if  it  conies 
out.  I  shall  bi'  believi'd  to  liave  bribed  liim  to  run  away, 
wlietlier  or  not."  Thus  the'  otttside  conscience  came  in  aid  of 
the  inner. 

'•■  [  will  net  cfive  yiui  one  sixpen.ce  for  your  information,"  he 
said,  resolutely,  '•  until  tijui'  has  nia.le  it  eh  ar  that  _you  do  not 
intend  to  decani]\  but  will  bo  foridieoniin;;  Avhen  you  are  called 
for.  ()n  iliosio  terms  [  iiave  no  oiijeetion  to  give  you  a  note, 
Bpe(  ilying  tliat  aftn-  lb"  rul:;l;i;--nt  of  tl.::t  >'on<lition — that 
is,  after  the  oceiuTonco  of  ;i  .-oiit.  or  th.e  umbu'sta.nding  tliat  no 
suit  is  to  occur  —  1  will  pa\-  you  ai  errtain  sum  in  consiileration 
oi  the  infonnati'Hi  you  Uiuv  give  me  I" 

Christian  felt  himsidf  caught  iu  a  vice.  In  tlie  first  instance 
h^  had  counted  coniidently  on  Uarold's  ready  seizure  oi'  Ids 
otter  to  disajipear.  and  after  some'  words  li;id  seeme'il  to  cast  a 
doubt  on  tills  presuiij^ositiou.  le'  1i;mI  inwa.rdly  d  ■!' rmined  to 
go  awa_),  whether  Harold  wish.ed  it  or  not,  if  he  could  get  a 


852  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

suflicient  sum.  He  did  not  reply  immediately,  and  Harold 
waited  in  silence,  inwardly  anxious  to  know  what  Christian 
could  tell,  but  with  a  vision  at  present  so  far  cleared  that  he 
was  determined  not  to  risk  incurring  the  imputation  of  having 
anytiiing  to  do  with  scoundrelism.  \\\'  are  very  much  in- 
debtt.il  to  such  a  linking  of  events  as  makes  a  doubtful  action 
look  V,  voug. 

Chxistiau  was  reflecting  that  if  he  stayed,  and  faced  some 
possible  inconveniences  of  being  known  publicly  as  Henry 
Scaddon  for  the  sake  of  what  he  miglit  get  from  Esther,  it 
would  at  least  be  wise  to  be  certain  of  some  money  from  Harold 
Transome,  since  he  turned  out  to  be  of  so  peculiar  a  dis})OsitioD. 
as  to  insist  on  a  punctilious  honesty  to  his  own  disadvantage. 
Did  he  think  of  making  a  bargain  with  tlie  other  side  ?  If  so. 
he  might  be  content  to  wait  for  the  knowicdgf  till  it  came  in 
some  other  way.  Christian  \\'as  licginning  Uj  ]>(_■  afi-aiil  Ifst  he 
should  get  nothing  by  this  clever  move  of  (.'oming  to  Transome 
Court.     At  last  he  said  — 

••'I  think,  sir,  two  thousand  would  not  be  an  unreasonable 
sum,  on  those  conditions.'' 

'•  I  will  not  give  two  thousand."' 

'SVllow  me  to  say,  sir,  you  must  consider  that  there  is  no 
one  whos(^  interest  it  is  to  tell  you  a>  much  as  I  ^liall.  even  if 
they  could;  since  Mr.  Jermj'n,  who  knows  it,  has  not  thougLt 
fit  to  tell  you.  There  may  be  use  you  dou"t  think  of  in  getting 
the  information  at  once."' 

"Well?" 

"■  I  tliink  a  gentleman  should  act  liberally  under  such 
circumstances."" 

"So  I  will.-' 

"  I  could  not  take  less  tlian  a  thr>usand  pounds.  It  really 
would  not  be  woi-tli  my  while.  ]i'  Mr.  .leiiiiyn  knew  I  gave 
you  the  information,  he  Avould  endeavoi-  t')  in  hire  me." 

'•' T  will  give  you  a  thousand,""  said  Tfaivjlii.  immediately,  for 
Christian  had  uneidi.-cidu^ly  touched  a.  sure  spi-ing.  ''At  least^ 
I  '11  give  you  a  notr  tu  t.hc  effect  1  sjioke  of." 

He  wrote  as  he  Imd  ju'omised,  and  gave  tlie  paper  to 
Christian. 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  oo3 

"  Now,  don't  be  circuitous,"  said  Harold.  "  You  seem  to 
have  a  busiuess-like  gift  of  speech.  Who  and  where  is  this 
Bycliffe  ?  ■"' 

"  You  will  be  surprised  to  hear,  sir,  tl;at  she  is  supposed 
to  be  the  daughter  of  the  old  preacher,  Lyon,  in  ]\!althouse 
Yard."' 

"  Good  God  !  How  can  that  be  ?  "  said  Harold.  At  once, 
the  iirst  occasion  on  which  he  had  seen  Esther  rose  in  his 
memory  —  the  little  dark  parlor  —  tlie  graceful  girl  in  blue, 
with  the  surprisingly  distinguished  manners  and  appearance. 

"  In  this  way.  Old  Lyon,  by  some  strange  means  or  other, 
married  Bycliffe's  widow  when  this  girl  was  a  buiby.  And  tlie 
preacher  did  n't  want  the  girl  to  know  th;).t  he  was  not  lier 
real  father:  he  told  me  that  hiinself.  But  she  is  tlie  image  of 
Bycliffe,  whom  1  knew  well  —  an  uncommonly  tine  woman  — 
steps  like  a  queen." 

"1  have  scfn  her,"  said  Harold,  more  than  ever  glad  to  have 
purchased  this  knowledge,      '•i'uit  now,  go  on." 

Christian  })roceeded  to  tell  all  he  knew,  including  his  con- 
versation with  Jcrmyn,  except  so  far  as  it  had  an  unpleasant 
relation  to  himself. 

"  Then,"  said  Harold,  as  the  details  seemed  to  have  come 
to  a  close,  "you  believe  that  Miss  Lyon  and  her  supjiosed 
father  are  at  present  unaware;  of  the  claims  that  might  be 
urged  for  her  on  tlie  strength  of  lier  l)irth  ? '' 

'•  1  believe  sc>.  l>ut  1  need  nijt  tell  you  that  where  the  law- 
yers are  on  the  scent  you  can  never  be  sure  of  anything  long 
togetlier.  1  must  rtunind  you,  sir.  tliat  you  have  promised  to 
})roteet  me  from  ]Mr.  Jerniyn  by  keeping  my  confidence." 

"Never  fear.  Depend  upon  it,  I  shall  betray  nolhing  to 
Mr.   .rermyn."' 

('liristiau  w;is  dismissed  with  a  '-good  morning;''  and  wliile 
he  culriviited  some  friendly  reminiscences  with  Dominic.  Har- 
old sat  elicwiu','  the  cml  of  liis  new  knowledg(>,  and  fin. ling  it 
not  altoL,n'ther  so  bitter  as  he  !i:ii!_  expected. 

From  the  tirst.  after  his  iiilerviev\'  witli  -Termvn,  tlie  I'ccoil 
of  Harold's   mind    from  the    ide'a  of   strangling   a   h;.'-al    riglit 
threw   him  on  the   alternatix'       u'    attempting  a   eom))romise. 
■•"^L.  in.  i-e 


354  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  EADICAL. 

Some  middle  course  might  be  possible,  which  would  be  a  less 
evil  tluin  a  costly  lawsuit,  or  than  the  total  renunciation  oi 
the  estates.  And  now  lie  had  learned  tluit  the  new  claimant 
was  a  woman  —  a  young  woman,  brouglit  up  under  circum- 
stances that  would  make  the  fourth  ot  the  Trausome  property 
seem  to  her  an  immense  lortune.  l>oth  the  st-x  and  the  social 
condition  were  of  the  sort  that  lies  o})(.'ii  tu  Jiiauy  softening 
inhtieuces.  And  having  seen  Esther,  it  was  inevitable  that, 
amongst  the  various  issues,  agreeable  and  disagreeable,  depicted 
by  Harold's  imagination,  tiiere  sliotdd  present  itself  a  possi- 
bility tliat  would  tuiite  the  two  claims  —  liis  own.  which  lie 
felt  to  be  the  rational,  and  Esther's,  whi(di  a|i})arently  was' 
the  legal  claim. 

Harold,  as  he  had  constantly  said  to  his  mothfr.  was  "not 
a  marryiiiLT  man  ;  "  he  did  not  eontrmplate  bringing  a  wife  to 
Transome  Court  fur  many  years  to  come,  if  at  ail.  Having 
little  Harry  as  an  heir,  he  }ireferred  freedom.  A\'estern 
women  were  not  to  his  taste  :  they  showed  a  transition  from 
the  feebly  animal  to  the  thinking  being,  which  was  simply 
troublesome.  Harold  ]iier>'ired  a  slow-v.itted  large-eyed  woman, 
silent  and  nCteetionate.  with  a  load  of  lilaek  hair  -weighing 
much  more  heavily  than  her  brains.  He  had  seen  no  such 
woman  in  bhigland,  exce])t  one  whom  he  had  h)ruught  with 
him   fi'um  the  East. 

Therefore  Harold  did  not  care  to  be  marrieil  until  ov  unless 
some  sui-])ri>ing  ehanee  j)i'i'>eiite(|  itself;  and  now  Ihat  sueh  a 
chanet;  h:id  oetairi'i'il  1o  suu^u'cst  marriage  to  him.  hf  would  not 
admit  to  himself  that  he  coiitejuiilated  marryin'4-  Ib^ther  as  a 
]>lan  :  he  was  onl\-  oiib^ed  to  s.-r  that  sueh  an  issue  was  not 
ineon'M'ivable.  He  was  not  .li'oinu''  to  take  any  stejt  exjiressly 
directed  towards  that  enil  :  Avhat  lie  lai'l  mad-'  up  liis  mind  to, 
as  the  coni'M'  most  sati^faetoiv  to  his  n;;tni't,'  under  jiresent 
uru'i'iicii-s.  was  to  lirhnvt'  to  l->sther  with  a  ii'aidv  gentleman- 
liness.  which  mu.-t  win  her  ;j,'oo(bwiH.  and  inellne  her  to  save 
his  family  inlerr-t  as  much  as  j)ossiole.  lie  was  he]})cd  to 
this  detiuaninatinn  ti\-  liir  iileasure  ol'  frustiating  Jerm\'n's 
contrivance  to  shielii  hunsell  irom  lainishment  :  and  his  most 
distinct  and  cheering   prospect  was,  that  within  a  very  short 


FELTX  HOLT,    THE   KADTCAL.  865 

space  of  time  he  should  not  only  have  effected  a  satisfactory 
coiii})roiuise  with  Esther,  but  slioukl  have  made  Jermyn  aware, 
by  a  wry  disagrreabL-  form  of  aunounetuneut,  that  Harold 
Trausoiue  was  uo  longer  afraid  of  him.  Jermyn  should  bite 
the  dust. 

At  the  end  of  these  meditations  he  felt  satisfied  with  himself 
and  light-hearted.  He  had  rejected  two  dishouf^st  pro|»ositionR, 
and  he  was  going  to  do  something  tliat  seemed  eminentl}' 
gractd'ul.  lint  he  needed  his  mother's  assistanee,  and  it  was 
necessary  that  he  should  both  confide  in  her  and  persuade 
lier. 

AVithin  two  hours  aftiu-  Christian  left  him,  Harold  begged 
his  mother  to  come  into  his  private  room,  and  rlicve  he  told 
her  the  strange  and  startling  story,  omitting.  howeVvU',  any 
particulars  which  would  involve  the  ideiititicatinn  ol'  Christian 
as  his  inlormant.  Harold  felt  tluit  his  cngagemt'iit  demanded 
his  retieenee  ;  and  lie  told  his  mother  that  Ip.'  was  hourid  to 
conceal  the  source  cii'  tl*at  knowledge  which  lie  had  got  inde- 
})endei;1  ly  ol'  dermyn. 

jNIrs.  'I'ransoiiie  said  little  in  th(>  course  o!"  the  story:  she 
made  no  exehimations,  but  .-he  list.'uefl  with  cliise  attiMition, 
ami  asked  a  IV'W  (|uestions  so  much  to  tlie  ]i(.)iiit  as  to  surprise 
H;;i'o]d.  A\'licn  he  showed  l.n- ilie  copy  of  liie  legal  opinion 
vhicli  Jermvn  had  left  witli  hi;ii.  she  said  sl:e  kw'^w  it  very 
well  :  she  had  a  co])y  herself.  The  particidars  of  that  last 
lawsuit  were  too  well  engj'avcn  on  her  mind  :  it  hajipeiu'd  at 
a  lime  wh.en  lleTe  was  no  one  to  su]>ersedc  iiev.  ami  slie  was 
tlie  viilual  he;id  of  the  family  .afl'airs.  She  w;!  •  erejia.re'd  to 
niulerstand  liow  the  estade  nuLi'lii  be  indaicrer:  l>ut  unthing 
had  ju'cparcd  her  for  the  sta/ange  details  —  '.or  <■!"  wav  in 
whicli  llic  new  <'laiiuaid  liad  Inn  ji  reared  and  l:re^;i  :lit  within 
the  ran'_;-e  oi'  con\-frginLr  motiv-s  that  had  i<'d  to  tie.-  rev(>la- 
tion.  least  of  all  for  the  iiarf  d'Tinvi;  luel  corae  1)  nlav  in 
the  revelation.  Mrs.  Ti-aii.-i ac-  -aw  these  thing's  tiir. ae^ii  the 
medium  (1  certain  dominant  tanoi'.ons  tliat  mad"  tie  in  seem 
like  a  lon'_:aa pe-nne^-  retributiun.  Ilarold  percrivcd  ihat  she 
^\"a.-^  i^aiefnlly  audtated.  that  slic  tri-mbleil.  and  th:;;  la-r  white 
lips    would   not   readily   lend   tlietaselves  to  speech.      And  thia 


S56  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

was  hardly  more  than  he  expected.  He  had  not  liked  the 
revelation  himself  when  it  had  first  come  to  him. 

But  he  did  not  guess  what  it  was  in  his  narrative  which 
had  most  pierced  his  mother.  It  was  sometliing  that  made 
the  threat  about  the  estate  only  a  secondary  alarm.  Xow,  for 
the  first  time,  she  heard  of  the  intended  proceedings  against 
Jermyn.  Harold  had  not  chosen  to  speak  of  them  before  ; 
but  having  at  last  called  his  mother  into  consultation,  there 
was  nothing  in  his  mind  to  hinder  him  from  speaking  without 
reserve  of  his  determination  to  visit  on  the  attorney  his 
shameful  maladministration  of  the  family  affairs. 

Harold  went  tlirough  the  whole  narrative — of  what  he 
called  Jcu-myn's  scheme  to  catch  him  in  a  vice,  and  his  jiowcr 
of  trium])hantly  frustrating  that  scheme  —  in  his  usu;il  rapid 
way.  speaking  with  a  final  iu'cisi\'eness  of  tone:  .;iid  liis 
mothfu-  felt  that  if  she  urged  any  counter-consideraliou  at 
all,  slie  (-(jidd  only  do  so  when  he  had  no  more  to  say. 

"  Now.  wliat  I  want  ycju  to  do,  mocfier,  if  you  can  see  this 
matter  as  1  see  it,"'  Harold  said  in  conclusion,  "is  to  go  with 
me  to  call  on  this  girl  in  Malthouse  Yard.  I  will  0})en  the 
affair  to  lier ;  it  aj^pears  she  is  not  likely  to  have  been  in- 
formed yet ;  and  you  will  invite  her  to  visit  you  here  at  oin'(% 
tlip.t  all  scandal,  all  liatching  of  law-miscliief,  2nay  he,  avoided, 
and  the  thing  ma}'  l)e  bi'ouglit  to  an  amicable  conclusidn.'" 

"It  seems  almost  incredible  —  extraordinary  —  a  girl  in 
her  p(jsition,"  said  ^^]•s.  'i'ransome,  witli  ditiiculty.  It  would 
have  seemed  the  bittei'cst  liumiliating  i)enance  if  another  sort 
of  suffering  had  left  any  room  in  her  lieurt. 

"  I  assure  you  slie  is  a  lady  ;  I  saw  her  when  I  was  canvass- 
ing, and  was  ania/xul  at,  the  time.  Yon  will  b(^  fpnt(;  struck 
with  her.      It  is  luj  inilignity  for  you  to  invite  h(u\" 

'•'Oh,"'  said  Mi-s.  Transome'.  with  low-toned  bitterness.  "I 
must  put  up  witii  all  things  as  they  are  deterndned  for  nu;. 
Wh(m  shall  w<'  go?" 

"Well,"'  said  IFarold.  looking  at  his  watclu  "it  is  hardly 
two  yet.  We  could  really  go  to-day.  when  y(ju  have  lunched. 
It  is  V)etter  to  hjse  no  time.      I  "U  order  tla;  (;arriage."" 

"  Stay,''  said    Mrs.    Transome,    making  a  desperate    effort, 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  357 

•■'  There  is  plenty  of  time.  I  shall  not  lunch.  I  have  a  word 
to  say." 

Harold  withdrew  his  hand  from  the  bell,  and  leaned  against 
the  mantel-piece  to  listen. 

"  You  see  I  comply  with  your  wish  at  once,  Harold  ?  " 

"  Yes,  mother,  1  'm  much  obliged  to  you  for  making  no 
difficulties.*' 

''  You  ought  to  listen  to  me  in  return."' 

''  Pray  go  on,"  said  Harold,  expecting  to  bo  annoyed. 

"  \Vhat  is  the  good  of  having  these  Chancery  proceedings 
against  Jcrmyn  ?  " 

"  Good  ?  Tills  good  :  that  fellow  has  burdened  the  estate 
with  annuities  and  mortgages  to  the  extent  of  three  thousand 
a-year;  and  tlie  bulk  of  them,  1  am  ceitaiu,  he  liolds  hiiuself 
under  the  name  of  another  man.  \nd  the  adviinccs  this 
yearly  interest  represents,  have  not  been  much  more  than 
twenty  thousand.  Of  course  he  has  hoodwinked  you,  and  my 
father  never  gave  attention  to  these  things.  He  has  been  up 
to  all  sorts  of  devil's  work  with  tlie  cUhmIs  ;  he  did  n't  count  on 
my  coming  back  i'rom  Smyrna  to  fill  poor  Durfey's  i)lace.  He 
shall  feel  tlie  diffei-eiKH",  And  tlie  good  will  be.  tliat  I  shall 
save  almost  all  the  annuities  for  the  rest  of  my  fatlier's  life, 
wliich  mav  be  ten  years  or  mor(\  and  I  shall  get  bael:  some  of 
the  meni'v.  and  I  shall  punish  a  scoundrel.     That  is  the  good." 

"  He  will  be  ruined."' 

''That's  what  I  inteiub''  said  Harold,  sharply. 

"He  exi'i'ted  himself  a  great  de;al  for  us  in  the  old  suits, 
evt'rv  one  said  he  had  wonderful  zeal  and  ability,"  said  Mrs. 
Transom(\  getting  coui'age  and  warmth  as  she  went  on.  Her 
temper  was  rising. 

'•"What  he  did,  lie  did  for  his  own  sake,  you  may  depend  on 
tliat."'  said  Harold,  with  a,  scornful  laugh. 

'' 'IMiere  were  very  painful  things  in  that  last  suit.  You 
s(^em  anxious  about  this  yount,'  woman,  to  avoid  all  furliier 
scandal  and  contests  in  the  fanrdy.  ^Vliy  don't  you  wi;-l;  to 
do  it;  in  this  case?  fbjrrayn  ri;i'_:iit  be  willini:  to  arr:'r.<_ro 
tilings  amieablv — to  make;  restitution  as  far  as  he  can  —  if  lie 
has  done  anything  wrong." 


358  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"I  will  arrange  nothing  amicably  with  him,"  said  Harold, 

decisively.  "  If  he  has  ever  done  anything  scandalous  as  our 
agent,  h.'t  him  bear  the  infamy.  And  the  right  way  to  throw 
the  infamy  on  him  is  to  show  the  world  that  he  has  robbed 
us,  and  that  I  mean  to  punish  him.  Wliy  do  you  wish  to 
shield  such  a  fellow,  mother  ?  It  has  Ijeen  chiefly  through 
him  that  y(ju  have  had  to  lead  such  a  thrifty  miserable  life  — 
you  who  used  to  make  as  brilliant  a  figure  as  a  woman  need 
wish." 

Mrs.  Transome's  rising  temper  was  turned  into  a  horrible 
sensation,  as  painful  as  a  suddr'ii  concussion  l'r<jm  something 
hard  and  immovabh.'  v/hen  we  have  struck  out  v^'itli  our  fist, 
intending  to  hit  something  warm,  soft,  and  breathing,  like 
ourselves,  i'oor  .Mrs.  Transome"s  strokes  were  sent  jarring 
back  on  her  by  a  Idii'iI  unalterable  ])ast.  She  did  n(;t  speak  in 
answer  to  JIarold,  but  rose  from  the  chair  as  if  she  gave  up 
the  deljate. 

'■  Women  ai'e  frightened  at  eveiything,  I  know,"  said  Harold, 
kindly,  feeling  that  Iw  had  Intm  a  little  harsh  aftei'  his 
mothf-r's  compliance.  "-Aiid  you  have  been  usid  for  so  many 
years  to  think  Jermyn  a  law  of  natui'c.  Come,  mother,"  ho 
went  on,  looking  at  Jier  gently,  and  r(;sting  his  Lands  on  her 
shoulders,  "  h^ok  cJK^eriul.  ^\'e  shall  get  througli  all  tlicsc 
diliieulties.  A]id  lliis  girl — L  dare  say  she  will  l;e  ouite  an 
biterrsting  visitor  i'ov  you.  You  luive  riot  had  a.iiy  young  girl 
ihout  you  lor  a  long  while.  A\'lio  knov/s  '.'  slie  may  fall 
de(?ply  in  love  witii  nu'.  and  I  may  be  oldiged  to  many  her." 

He  spoke  laugliin.i,dy,  only  thiidcing  how  he  could  make  his 
motlier  smile.  JUit  she  looked  at  1dm  seriously  and  said,  '•  Do 
you  mean  ihat,  Harold  ?  " 

'•  \u[  1  not  eapald"  of  making  a  conquest?  Not  too  fat  yet 
—  a  liandsomi',  well-i'onnded  yoiitli  of  tnirry-1'our  ?  " 

She  was  ioi-eed  to  lool:  sti'ai;.d;t  at;  t!ie  be;iming  i'ace,  "with 
its  rich  dark  eolor,  jii-t  bent  a.  little  o\'<  r  ]i(;r.  \\'liy  ccnnd  sIk; 
not  be  ha[)ps'  in  this  son  whose-  i'utui'e  she  ]i:id  once  di-eained 
of_  and  who  had  ln-en  as  foii'inale  as  rAi>-  iiad  ('ver  hoped  ? 
T-"  r<'ars  came,  not,  j,lcnteously,  hut  maldii','-  li'^r  dark  eyes  as 
'    iL:e  and  briglit  as  youth  liad  on(;e  made  them  without  tears. 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE  RADICAL,  359 

"  There,  there  !  "  said  Harold,  coaxingly.  "Don't  be  afraid. 
You  shall  not  have  a  daughter-iu-law  unless  she  is  a  pearl. 
Now  we  will  get  ready  to  go." 

In  half  an  hour  from  that  time  ^NFrs.  Transome  came  down, 
looking  niaj(>stic  in  sables  and  vidvet,  ready  to  call  on  "the 
girl  in  .^ralthousc  Yard."  She  had  composed  herself  to  go 
through  this  task.  She  saw  there  was  nothing  better  to  be 
done.  A  t'tcr  the  resolutions  Harold  had  taken,  some  sort  of 
compromise  with  this  oddly  placed  heiress  was  the  result  most 
to  be  hoped  for  ;  if  the  compromise  turned  out  to  be  a  marriage 
—  well,  she  had  no  reason  to  care  much:  she  was  already 
powerless.     It  remained  to  be  seen  what  this  girl  was. 

The  carriage  was  to  be  driven  round  the  back  way,  to  avoid 
too  much  observation.  But  the  lat(i  election  alfairs  might 
account  for  ^Iv.  Lyon's  receiving  a  visit  from  the  unsuccessful 
Radical  candidate. 


CHAPTEE    XXXVII. 

I  alfio  could  spoak  as  _ve  (U>;  if  your  suul  were  in  my  iioul's  stead,  I  coald 
heap  up  words  against  you,  and  shake  mine  liead  at  you.  —  /Jo,'k  of  Job. 

In  the  interval  since  EstluM-  parted  with  b\>lix  Holt  on  the 
day  of  tht>  riot,  she  had  gone  thi'ough  so  much  emotion,  and 
had  already  hud  so  strong  ;)  ^.h^Jek  oi'  ^urpris(>.  lliat  she  was 
prepared  to  riM'cive  any  new  incident  of  an  unwonted  kind  with 
CLiniparative  etpianimity. 

\\lu'U  .Mr.  Lyon  had  got  home  again  from  his  ]n'eaehing 
e.x;cursion,  l-'elix  was  already  on  his  w;!y  to  Loainfoi'd  -laiL 
The  little  niini.ster  was  terribly  shaki-n  by  the  news.  He  saw 
no  (dear  e.xi  ilanat  iiMi  of  Felix  Ibjlt's  conduct  ;  for  th(>  state- 
men1s  F.slher  had  heard  were  so  cuntiictiitg  that  she  had  not 
been  able  to  gather  distiia^tly  v.hat  had  come  out  in  the  ex- 
amiiiati'in  by  the  magistrates.  Ibit  ^Lr.  Lyon  felt  eoitfldent 
that    Felix   was   iunnccnt  of   anv    wish   to  abet  a  riot  or  the 


360  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

infliction  of  injuries  ;  what  he  chiefly  feared  was  that  in  the 
fatal  encounter  with  Tucker  he  had  been  moved  by  a  rash 
temper,  not  sufficiently  guarded  against  by  a  prayerful  and 
humble  spirit. 

"^iy  poor  young  friend  is  being  taught  with  mysterious 
severity  the  evil  of  a  too  confident  self-reliance/'  he  said  to 
Esther,  as  they  sat  opposite  to  each  other,  listening  and  speak- 
ing sadly. 

"  You  will  go  and  see  him,  father  ?  " 

"Verily  will  I.  But  I  must  straightway  go  and  see  that 
poor  afflicted  v/oman  whose  soul  is  doubtless  Avhirled  about  in 
this  tro\ible  like  a  sha})eless  and  unstable  thing  driven  by 
divided  winds.''  Mv.  Lyon  rose  and  took  his  hat  Iiastily, 
ready  to  walk  out^,  witli  his  gruat-coat  flying  op(-u  and  expos- 
ing his  small  person  to  the  keen  air. 

"  Stay,  fatlier,  {iray,  till  you  have  had  some  food,"'  said 
Esther,  })utting  her  hand  on  his  arm.  "  You  look  quite  weary 
and  shattered." 

'•  Child,  I  cannot  stay.  I  can  neither  eat  Ijread  nor  drink 
water  till  I  have  learned  more  about  this  young  man's  deeds, 
what  can  ])c  proved  and  what  cannot  be  })i'Oved  against  him. 
I  fear  he  has  none  to  stand  by  him  in  tliis  town,  fur  even  by 
the  friends  of  our  church  I  have  been  ofttimes  rebuked  because 
iie  seemed  dear  to  me.     But,  Esther,  my  beloved  child  —  " 

Hero  ]\rr.  Lyon  grasped  her  arm,  and  seemed  in  tlie  need  of 
spee(:]i  to  I'oi'get  liis  previous  haste.  '' T  bear  iii  mind  this: 
the  Lord  knowetli  tliem  that  art;  His;  but  we  —  v.i'  are  l(;i't 
t(i  judge  by  uncertai)!  signs,  that  so  we  may  learn  tn  exercise 
hi/[ie  and  i'aitli  towards  one  anotlier  ;  and  in  lliis  uncertainty 
I  cling  with  awful  hope  to  those  whom  llie  wmld  loves  not 
because  t.hi'ir  conscience,  albeit  mistakenly,  is  at  war  with  the 
haliits  ()['  the  woi'ld.  (jur  great  faith,  my  Estliei',  is  the  faith 
of  martyrs  :  I  will  not  lightly  turn  awa}'  fi'om  any  man  who 
eiidur;'S  harshness  because  he  will  imt  lie;  nay,  though  1  would 
not  wantonly  '_ci"as])at  ease  of  mind  through  an  ai'bitrary  choice 
of  doctrine,  I  cannot  but  believe  that  the  merits  of  the  Divine 
Sacrifice  are  Avider  than  our  utmost  charity.  I  once  believed 
otherwise  —  but  not  now,  not  now." 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  361 

The  minister  paused,  and  seemed  to  be  abstractedly  gazing 
at  some  memory  :  lie  was  always  liablt;  to  ijl;  suatclied  away 
by  thoughts  from  the  pursuit  of  a  purpose  which  had  seemed 
pressing.  Ksther  seized  tlie  op}>ortiinity  and  prevailed  on  hiui 
to  iortily  him^.l'l^  with  some  of  Lyddy's  jiorridge  before  he 
went  ciut  on  liis  tiring  task  of  seeking  definite  trustworthy 
knowledge  from  the  lips  of  v^arious  witnesses,  beginning  with 
that  feminine  darkener  of  counsel,  poor  Mrs.  Holt. 

She,  regarding  all  her  trouble  about  Felix  in  the  light  of  a 
fullilment  of  her  own  })roplieeies,  treated  the  sad  history  with 
a  preference  for  edification  above  accuracy,  and  for  mystery 
above  relevance,  worthy  of  a  commentator  on  the  Apocalypse. 
She  insisted  cliielly.  not  on  the  important  facts  that  Felix  liad 
sat  at  his  work  till  after  eleven,  like  a  deaf  man,  had  rushed 
out  in  surprise  and  alarm,  had  come  back  to  rep<jrt  with  satis- 
faction that  things  were  quiet,  and  had  asked  her  to  set  by  his 
dinner  for  him  —  facts  which  would  tell  as  evidence  that  Felix 
was  disconnected  with  any  jiroject  of  disturbances,  and  "was 
averse  to  them.  These  filings  came  out  incidentally  in  her 
long  plaint  to  the  nrinister  ;  but  what  ^Mrs.  Holt  felt  it  essen- 
tial to  .btate  was.  that  long  before  ^liehaelmas  was  turned, 
sitting  in  her  cliair,  she  had  said  to  '.'elix  that  there  would  be 
a  judgment  on  him  for  being  so  certain  sure  about  the  l*ilh; 
and  the  h'dixir. 

'•And  nov,-,  Mr.  Lyon,"'  said  the  -[joor  woman,  who  had 
di'e'ssed  iiersell'  in  a  gown  |)rev^.^,  sly  cast  o\T.  a  front  all  out 
of  curl,  ami  a  cap  with  no  slai'ch  in  it,  wliile  riie  held  litlle 
coughing  .Joli  en  her  knee.  —  '-and  now  you  see  —  my  W(jr(ls 
have  come  tru'  sooner  tiian  !  tliouglil  they  would.  Felix  mav 
eontradiei  nie  it  lie  will  ;  bwl  th>'iv  he  is  in  jirison,  and  liei'c 
am  I,  with  noiliing  in  the  wnibi  to  i)le>s  myself  witli  Iml  iiait- 
a-crown  a-week  ;is  I  've  saved  i  v  my  own  scra})ing.  and  tliis 
lious(>  I've  got  to  pay  rent  i'^.;.  i;  '>  not  nie  has  doui'  wrong, 
Mr.  Fy(m  ;  there's  nobody  ean  ^.;y  it  ot  mi>  — not:  the  orpliaii 
cliild  on  my  knci^  is  more  inmerni  o*  not  and  murilei'  ami  any- 
thi'.ig  else  as  is  bail.  Hal  whrn  yon  "ve  got  a  son  so  mastertni 
and  stopping  ineditniies  as  I 'i'o\-idence  has  sent,  and  his  b.tler-, 
LirvH   been   t.akmg  up  and  l1<)v>u  the   country   since  bid'ore  he 


362  FELIX  HOLT    THE  RADICAL. 

was  a  baby,  it 's  o'  no  use  being  good  here  below.  But  lie  was 
a  baby,  Mr.  Lyon,  and  I  gave  him  tlie'  breast,''  —  here  puor 
Mrs.  Holt's  motherly  love  overcame  her  expository  eagerness, 
and  she  fell  more  and  more  to  crying  as  sh"  s|)oke  —  '-And  to 
think  there  's  folks  saying  now  as  he  'il  be  transported,  and 
his  liair  shaved  off,  and  the  treadmill,  and  everything.  Oh 
dear ;  " 

As  Mrs.  lh)\t  broke  olf  into  sobbing,  little  Job  also,  whf)  had 
got  li  confused  yet  jjroiuund  sens^^  oi'  sorrow,  and  of  Felix  being 
hurt  and  gone  away,  set  up  a  little  wail  of  wondering  misery. 

"Nay,  Mistress  Holt,"'  said  the  minister,  soothingly,  '-en- 
large not  your  grief  ])y  nnn-e  than  warrantable  grounds.  I 
hav^'  good  hope  that  my  yuuug  friend  your  son  v/ill  be  deliv- 
ered from  a]i\-  sevi.u-e  consequences  beyond  the  death  of  the 
man  Tuckei',  whieji  I  fear  will  ever  be  a  sore  burthen  on 
his  memory.  I  fetd  eontidtuit  that  a  jury  of  his  countrymen 
will  diseiu'ii  between  juisl'ortune,  or  it  may  be  misjudgment, 
and  an  evil  will,  and  that  he  will  be  acquitted  of  any  grave 
offence.'' 

"He  never  stole  anything  in  his  life,  ^Iv.  Lyon,"  said  ^Mrs. 
Holt,  reviving.  "  Nobody  can  throw  it  in  my  face  as  mv  sou 
ran  away  with  money  like  the  young  nuin  at  the  l)ank  — 
though  he  looked  most  respectable,  and  f r  r  diffeixuit  on  a 
Su!i;]ay  to  what  Felix  ever  did.  And  T  know  it 's  very  hard 
figliling  v\-ith  (■(U]>[ables  :  but  tliey  say  1'ueker's  wile '11  Ije  a 
d"al  iji-tter  olf  than  slie  \\';i,s  hofure,  for  the  great  folk^  '11  jien- 
.-.ion  luu',  and  siie '11  be  put  0!i  all  the  cliariti's.  and  her  clnl- 
dren  at  tlie  Frei,'  Sclinol.  and  everything.  "^'f)ur  troiible's  easj- 
l)oi-ne  wlifn  ever\-1>(Mly  gives  it  a  lift  foi'  yon  :  and  if  judge 
and  jui'v  wants  tf)  do  I'ight  by  F<-li.\.  they  "11  tlnid-:  of  hi.-,  poor 
motliei'.  willi  tlie  bread  took  out  of  hei'  nioutli.  all  but  lialf-a- 
crown  a-v,-eck  and  furnituiv  —  wlni-li.  to  ])'■  sui'e.  is  most  excfd- 
lent,  and  of  my  own  buyin-- ■ — an'i  got  to  keep  this  orpliin 
child  as  Felix  liiin<elf  In'ouight  on  nii'.  \]\:\  \  migfif  send  him 
back  to  his  oM  grandfathei' on  jini'i-li  ])ay.  but  I'm  not  th;it 
woman,  ^Tr.  T^yon  :  I've  a  tender  ne;iit.  And  liere 's  his  little 
b'et  and  toe^.  like  niiuFil  ;  .lo  bn;  lo,,k  -  lunv  :\Irs.  Holt 
drc^w  oif  Job'..  >'>c'k  :i;ni  s)ioi\  and  -huwed  u  wull-washeu   little 


FELIX    HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  363 

foot  —  "  and  you  '11  })eriiaps  say  I  might  take  a  lodger  ;  but 
it 's  easy  talking  ;  it  is  n't  everyljody  at  a  loose-end  wants  a 
parlor  and  a  Ijedrooni  ;  and  if  anything  bad  happens  to  Felix, 
I  may  as  well  go  and  sit  in  the  })arish  Pound,  and  nobody  to 
buy  me  out;  for  it's  beyond  everything  how  the  church  mem- 
bfrs  tind  fault  with  my  son.  lUit  I  think  they  might  leave 
his  niotlier  to  lind  fault ;  for  queer  and  masterful  he  might 
be,  and  tlying  in  tlie  face  of  the  very  Scripture  al)Out  the 
pliysic,  but  he  was  most  clever  beyond  anything  —  that  I  icill 
say  —  and  was  his  own  lather's  lawful  child,  and  me  his 
mother,  that  was  Mury  A\'all  thirty  years  before  ever  I  nuirried 
his  father."'  llc're  Mrs.  ILult's  feelings  again  became  too 
much  for  her,  but  slu.'  struggled  on  to  say,  sobbingly,  "And  if 
they  're  to  transport  him,  1  should  like  to  go  to  the  prison  and 
take  the  or})hin  child  ;  lor  he  was  most  fond  of  having  him  on 
his  lap,  and  said  he  'd  never  marry  ;  and  there  was  One  above, 
overheard  him,   for  he  "s  l)een  took  at   his  word.'' 

]Mr.  Lyon  listened  with  low  groans,  and  then  tried  to  com- 
fort her  by  saying  that  he  would  himself  go  to  Ldamford  as 
soon  as  ])ossihh',  and  ^\■()u^d  give  his  soul  nu  rest  till  he  had 
done  all  he  could  do   for   hflix. 

On  one  point  ^Ii's.  Holt's  ]ilaint  tallitMl  Avith  his  own  fort^- 
bodings,  and  he  found  them  \-f'rifir'd  :  the  state  of  feeling  in 
Trrby  among  tln^  fnln'ral  Dissenting  flo(dv  Avas  unfav(U'ablt'  to 
Felix.  None  wlio  hail  dbsci'vcd  liis  conduct  from  the  windows 
saw  anvthing  tondini,'  to  {'x<misi'  him.  and  his  own  account  of 
his  motives,  given  on  his  examination,  was  sjioki^n  of  with 
head-sliaking ;  if  it  had  not  lieeii  for  his  ha])it  of  alwavs 
tliinking  hinistdf  wiser  than  other  ])eo-j)h'.  lie  would  never 
have  entertaineil  .^urli  a  v.dld  sehemc.  lie  laid  sef  himself  up 
for  sonietluu',,^  extraordinai  \'.  ami  liad  sjfokeii  ill  df  res]iectable 
trades])eo;ile.  He  had  ])nt  a  st^o  fn  tlie  making'  of  salable 
drnirs.  eontrary  to  tlie  nature  of  buying  and  S(dlin'_r.  and  t<i  a 
due  reliance  on  what  I'nividence  niight  effect  in  the  hiiin::n 
inside  throinj-h  the  instrumentality  of  remedi(\s  unsiiitabli'  to 
the  stomach,  ludked  at  in  a  merely  secular  li-dit  ;  and  the 
I'csuit  was  what-  niiu'ld  have  i"'en  ex]iected.  He  had  bron.'^dit 
his  mother  to  poverty,  and  hinisf^lf  into  trouble.     And  what 


364  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

for  ?  He  had  done  no  good  to  "  the  cause ;  "  if  lie  had  fought 
about  Churcli-rates,  or  had  been  worsted  in  some  struggle  in 
Avhich  he  was  distinctly  the  champion  of  Dissent  and  Liberal- 
ism, his  case  would  have  been  one  for  gold,  silver,  and  copper 
subscri})tions,  in  order  to  procure  the  best  defence ;  sermons 
might  have  been  preached  on  him,  and  his  name  might  have 
floated  on  flags  from  Newcastle  to  Doi'chester.  But  there 
seemed  to  be  no  edification  in  what  had  befallen  Felix.  The 
riot  at  'J'reby,  "turn  it  which  way  you  wouhl,"  as  ]\rr.  jMuscat 
observed,  was  no  great  credit  to  Liberalism  ;  and  what  j\Ir.  Lyon 
had  to  testify  as  to  Felix  Llolt's  conduct  in  the  nuitter  of  the 
Sproxton  men,  oidy  made  it  clear  that  tlie  defence  of  Felix 
was  the  accusation  of  liis  party.  The  wliole  affair,  ]\Ir.  Xutt- 
vv'ood  saul,  was  dark  and  inscrutable,  and  seenu'd  imt  to  be  one 
in  Avliicii  tlie  intcid'erencc;  of  (iod's  servants  woidd  tend  to 
give  the  glory  where  the  glory  was  due;.  That  a  candidate 
for  whom  tlie  ricdun'  (dnircdi  miunbcrs  lutd  all  voted  should 
liave  liis  name  associat(Kl  with  the  encouragement  of  drunken- 
ness, riot,  and  plunder,  was  an  occasion  for  tlie  enfnny  to  blas- 
])heme  ;  and  it  was  not  clear  how  tlie  encm3''s  moutli  would 
be  sto])])ed  ])y  ex(;i-tions  in  favor  of  a  rasli  young  man,  A\]iose 
iiiteid'crcuce  ]i;id  mad(i  things  woi'sc  insfi-;id  of  bctt(U'.  j\l'r. 
Lyon  w;is  wiinu'd  lest  his  liunuin  })ai'ti;dities  shoidd  Idind  liim 
to  the  i!d;f'i'('sls  of  ti'utli  :  it  was  (lod's  cause  tliat  was  ciidan- 
.^''crrd   ill  this  matter. 

The  litlh'  minisfci-'s  soul  was  })ruiscd  ;  lie  himself  was 
keenly  alive  to  the  e()m])lieation  of  public  and  ]iri\at"  regards 
in  this  afFaii',  and  sulfei'ed  a  good  deal  at  the  thought  of  'I'ory 
triuniph  in  the  demonsti'ation  that,  excejiting  the  attack  on 
the  Si'-,-i'ii  S1ai\s.  whi(di  eallri]  itself  a  W'liig- house,  all  damage 
to  j.rnjH'ity  had  been  borni-  by  Tocies.  lie;  cai-ed  iidx'usely 
loi'  his  ojiiiiions,  and  would  have  liked  events  to  sjieak  for 
llieni  in  a  sort  ol'  ].!etii]'(>-\vr'it  ing  that  eveiyd)ody  could  under- 
stand. Till'  enj  ]ni-<ia,-nis  of  the  world  are  not  to  ])e  stimulated 
by  a  coiiinnaitarv  in  small  and  snbtle  (diai'aet^TS  which  alone 
ran  tell  the  wlioii-  1,rnth  ;  and  ihe  picture-wiating  in  l''(dix 
llolt's  ti-onblcN  \va,  of  an  entirely  paz/ling  kind:  if  he  wei'e 
a  niai'tvr.  neither  side  wunted  to  claini  liiiii.      Yet  the  ministerj 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   EADICAL.  365 

;is  we  have  seen,  found  in  his  Christian  faith  a  reason  for 
clinging  tlie  more  to  one  wlio  had  not  a  kirge  party  to  back 
]iim.  Tliat  little  man's  heart  was  heroic  ;  he  was  not  one  of 
those  Liberals  who  make  their  anxiety  for  "  the  cause  "  of 
Liberalisnr  a  plea  for  cowardly  desertion. 

Besides  himself,  he  believed  there  was  no  one  who  could 
bear  testimony  to  the  remonstrances  of  Felix  concerning  the 
treating  of  the  Sproxton  men,  except  Jermyn,  Johnson,  and 
Harold  Transonic.  Though  he  had  the  vaguest  idea  of  what 
could  be  done  in  the  case,  he  fixed  his  mind  on  the  probability 
that  ^Lr.  Transome  would  be  inoved  to  the  utmost  exertion,  if 
only  as  an  atonement ;  but  he  dared  nut  take  any  step  until 
he  had  consulted  Felix,  who  he  foresaw  was  likely  to  have  a 
very  strong  determination  as  to  tlie  help  he  would  accept  or 
not  accept. 

This  last  expectation  was  fulfilled.  'Mv.  Lyon  returned  to 
Esther,  alter  his  day's  journey  to  Tjoamford  and  back,  with 
less  of  trouble  and  })erph>xity  in  his  mind  :  he  had  at  least  got 
a  detinite  course  marked  out,  to  which  he  must  resign  him- 
self. Felix  had  dticlared  that  he  would  receive  no  aid  from 
Harold  Transome,  exce})t  the  aid  he  might  give  as  an  honest 
witness.  There  was  nothing  to  be  di)ne  for  him  l)ut  what  was 
perfectly  simple  and  direct.  Even  if  tlie  pleading  of  counsel 
had  been  permitted  (aiid  at  that  timt»  it  was  not)  on  behalf  (jf 
a  prisoner  on  trial  for  felony,  Felix  would  have  declined  it  : 
he  would  in  any  ease  have  spoken  in  his  own  defence.  ]b' 
had  a  perfectly  simple  account  to  give,  and  iKunled  not  to 
avail  himself  of  any  legal  adroitness.  He  consented  to  acce])t 
tlie  services  of  a  respectable  solicitor  in  Loamford,  who  offered 
to  conduct  his  case  without  any  fees.  The  work  was  plain 
and  easy,  Felix  said.  'l']\o  only  witnesses  who  had  to  be 
hunted  up  at  all  were  some  who  could  testify  that  he  liad 
tried  to  take  tlu^  crowd  down  Hobb's  Lane,  and  that  they  had 
gone  to  the  Manor  in  spite  of  him. 

'■'Then  he  is  ncjt  so  much  cast  down  as  you  feared,  father  ?" 
said  l-~!stlier. 

■'  No,  child;  all)eit  he  is  jvile  and  much  shaken  for  one  so 
Btalwart.     He  hath  no  grief,  he  says,  save  for  the  poor  man 


366  FELIX   HOLT,    Tin:   KADICAL. 

Tucker,  aud  for  his  mother  ;  otherwise  his  heart  is  without  a 
burthen.  We  discoursed  greatly  on  the  sad  effect  of  all  this 
for  his  mother,  and  on  the  perplexed  condition  of  human 
things,  whereby  even  right  action  seems  to  bring  evil  conse- 
(juences,  if  we  have  respect  only  to  our  own  brief  lives,  and 
not  to  that  larger  rule  whereby  we  are  stewards  of  the  eter- 
nal dealings,  and  not  contrivers  of  our  own  success."' 

'•'Did  he  say  nothing  about  me.  futlier  ? ''  said  Esther, 
trembling  a  little,  but  unable  to  repress  her  egoism. 

'•'Yea  J  he  asked  if  you  were  Avell,  and  sent  his  affectionate 
regards.  Nay,  he  bade  me  say  soiiu-thiug  which  appears  to 
refer  to  your  discourse  together  when  1  was  not  present. 
'Tell  her,'  he  said,  'whatt-ver  they  sentence  nie  to.  she  knows 
they  can't  rob  me  of  my  vocation.  With  poverty  for  my 
bride,  and  preaching  and  pedagx)gy  for  my  Imsiness.  I  am 
sure  of  a  handsome  establishment.'  lie  laughed  —  doubtless 
bearing  in  mind  some  })layfalm^ss  of  thine." 

Mv.  Lyon  seemed  to  be  looking  at  Esther  as  he  smiled,  but 
she  was  not  near  enough  for  him  to  discern  the  expression  of 
her  face.  Just  then  it  seemed  made  for  m(dancholy  rather 
than  for  jdayfulness.  Tb-rs  was  not  a  childish  beauty;  and 
when  the  sparkh'  of  mischiel'.  Avit.  and  vanity  was  ont  ol'  her 
I'yes,  and  tln'  large  look  of  abstracted  soi'row  was  thero.  you 
Would  have  been  sur])i-ised  by  a  (•(■rtain  gi'andeur  which  the 
smiles  had  hidden.  Tliat  changing  face  was  tlu^  ])erfr('t  syju- 
b(jl  of  her  mixed  susceptible  natnre.  in  which  l)attle  was  inevi- 
table, and  tlie  side  of  victory  uncei-tain. 

She  l)egan  to  look  on  ;dl  tliat  ]ia,d  ])asse(l  lietween  h(>rself 
and  Felix  as  something  not  buried,  but  embalmed  and  kept  as 
a  relic  in  a  ]»rivat(>  sanctuary.  Tb.e  viTy  entireness  of  her 
preoccu]iati(>n  about  liim,  tlie  ]ier])e1ual  repetition  in  her 
mfunory  of  all  tliat  had  ])asse(l  between  ihcm,  b/nded  to  ju'o- 
(luce  this  efi'eet.  Slie  lived  willi  hini  in  the  ])ast ;  in  tln^, 
future  she  seemed  shut  out  i'roni  him.  He  wa.s  ;iii  inflnenee 
above  her  life,  rather  than  a.  iiart.  ui'  it:  some  t.ime  or  (.ther, 
])erhaps.  lie  would  ]»e  le  hei'  as  if  he  liehii.ged  to  the  solemn 
admonishing  skies,  checking  Jier  sell-satistied  pettiness  with 
the  stiggestion  of  a  wider  life. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KAUICAL.  367 

But  not  yet  —  not  while  l\or  trouble  was  so  fresh.  For  it 
was  still  her  trouble,  and  not  Felix  Holt's.  Perhaps  it  was  a 
subtraction  i'roni  his  power  over  her,  that  she  could  never 
think  of  him  witii  pity,  because  he  always  seemed  to  her  too 
great  and  strong  to  be  pitied  :  he  wanted  nothing.  He  evaded 
calamity  by  choosing  privation.  'V\\v  best  part  of  a  woman's 
love  is  worship ;  but  it  is  hard  to  her  to  be  sent  away  with  her 
precious  spikenard  rejected,  and  h(>r  long  tresses  too,  that  were 
let  fall  ready  to  soothe  the  wearied  fert. 

AVhile  Esther  was  carrying  these  things  in  her  heart,  the 
January  days  were  beginning  to  pass  by  with  their  wonted 
wintry  monotony,  rxcopt  that  there  was  rat-her  more  of  good 
cheer  than  usual  remaining  from  the  feast  of  Twelfth  Xight 
among  the  triumphant  Tories,  and  rather  more  scandal  than 
usual  excited  among  the  mortified  Dissenters  by  the  wilful- 
ness of  tlieir  minister.  He  had  actually  meirLioned  Felix  Holt 
by  name  in  his  evmiing  sermtm.  and  offered  \\\)  a  petition  for 
him  in  llic  evening  }irayer.  also  by  name  —  rjot  as  "a  young 
Ishimudite.  whom  we  would  fain  see  f)]'(night  back  from  the 
lawli>ss  life  of  the  desert,  and.  seated  in  tlie  same  fold  even 
Avirh  tlie  sous  of  rTudah  and  of  ])e!iiamin,"'  a  suitable  peri- 
phrasis whicli  r.rotlier  !\emp  tlirew  olf  without  any  eifoi't,  and 
with  all  the  felieity  of  a  suggestive  critic,  i'oor  ]\Irs.  Holt, 
indeed,  even  in  tlie  midst  of  her  griei'.  exjierieiiced  a  proud 
satisi'action,  that  tliougli  not  a  church  meiiibei'  slie  was  now 
an  oliject  of  congregalional  veiiiai-k  and  mini- terial  allusion, 
i'^'eliug  liei'srl  r  a  s])otless  el;ai'aeter  s'laieiiir.^'  onl  in  relief  on 
a  (bnk  baelyv.Tonnd  of  aiiiiet  ioiii.  and  a  pi'aeiiriil  eontradiction 
to  that  extreiiM'  docti'ine  of  hunian  di  j)i'avitv  which  she  had 
never  ••given  in  to."  she  was  naliii'aby  gratiiied  and  soothed 
fiy  a  notiei'  wiiieli  must  be  a  I'eeo^'nit  ion,.  Ihit  more  iniluen- 
tial  Iiearin-s  wei'e  of  opiinon.  tJiai  in  a  maji  who  had  so  many 
loinj;  seiUenees  at  conimand  as  Mi'.  Lyon,  so  inauy  ])arentlieses 
an,d  modifying  clauses,  tliis  ii.iived  use  of  a  non-scrij'tural 
Ti-eliv  name  in  an  address  to  tie  Aimiehiy  was  all  the  more 
olTen-ivt\  In  a  low  uidetti'i'ed  loe  il  iii'e;udi(n-  oi  tin'  Wesleyan 
persuasion  surli  tliiiiLTS  ini^-lit  oa.-s :  but  a  certain  style  in 
praver  was   demanded    fi'oni    Lndependents.  the   most  educated 


368  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

body  in  the  ranks  of  orthodox  Dissent.  To  Mr.  Lyon  such 
notions  seemed  painfully  perverse,  and  the  next  morning  he 
was  declaring  to  Esther  his  resolution  stoutly  to  withstand 
them,  and  to  count  nothing  common  or  unclean  on  which  a 
blessing  could  be  asked,  when  the  tenor  of  his  thoughts  was 
completely  changed  by  a  great  shock  of  surprise  which  made 
both  hin"iself  and  Esther  sit  looking  at  each  other  in  speechless 
amazement. 

The  cause  was  a  letter  brought  by  a  special  messenger  from 
Duffield;  a  heavy  letter  addressed  to  Esther  in  a  business-like 
manner,  quite  unexampled  in  her  corres])ondence.  And  the 
contents  of  the  letter  were  more  startling  than  its  exterior. 
It  began :  — 

Madam,  — Herewith  we  send  you  a  brief  abstract  of  evidence  which 
has  come  within  our  knoNvIedge,  that  the  right  of  reniaiuder  whereby 
the  Uiieal  issue  of  Edward  Bychffe  can  claim  possession  ot  the  estates 
of  which  the  entail  was  settled  by  John  Justus  Transome  in  1729,  now 
first  accrues  to  you  as  the  sole  and  lawful  issue  of  Maurice  Christian 
Bychife.  We  are  confident  of  success  in  the  prosecution  of  this  claim, 
which  will  result  to  you  in  the  possession  of  estates  to  the  value,  at 
the  lowest,  of  from  five  to  six  thousand  per  aiuium  — 

It  was  at  this  point  that  Esther,  who  was  reading  aloud,  let 
her  hand  fall  with  the  letter  on  her  lap,  and  with  a  ])alpitating 
heart  looked  at  her  father,  who  looked  again,  in  silence  that 
lasted  for  two  or  three  minutes.  A  certain  terror  was  upon 
tlicm  both,  though  the  thoughts  that  laid  that  weight  on  the 
tongu(i  of  each  were  different. 

It  was  ^Ir.  Lyon  who  spoke  first. 

"This,  then,  is  what  the  man  named  Christian  referred  to. 
I  distrusted  him.  yet  it  seems  he  spoke  truly."' 

"But,"  said  Esther,  wdiose  imagination  ran  necessarily  to 
those  conditions  of  w^ealth  whicli  slie  could  ])est  ajijireciate, 
"  do  they  mean  that  tlic  Transomes  w'ould  be  turned  out  of 
Transome  Court,  and  that  I  should  go  and  live  there  ?  It 
seems   quite  an  impossibh;  thing."' 

"  Xay,  child.  1  know  not.  I  am  ignorant  in  these  things, 
and   the    thought  of   worldly  grandeur   for  you   hath    more   of 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  -369 

torror  than  of  gladness  for  me.  Xovertheloss  we  must  dul}' 
weigh  all  things,  not  considering  aught  that  befalls  us  as  a 
bare  event,  but  rather  as  an  occasion  for  faithful  stewardship. 
Let  us  go  to  my  study  and  consider  this  writing  further." 

How  this  announcement,  which  to  Estlier  seemed  as  un- 
prepared  as  i  f  it  had  fallen  from  the  skies,  came  to  be  made 
to  her  1)}"  solicitors  other  than  Uatt  &  Cowley,  the  old  lawyers 
of  the  Byclilfes,  was  by  a  sequence  as  natural,  that  is  to  say, 
as  legally  natural,  as  any  in  the  world.  The  secret  worker  of 
the  a})parent  wonder  was  ^Mr.  flohnson,  who,  on  the  very  day 
when  he  wrote  to  give  his  patron,  'Mr.  Jei'uiyn,  the  serious 
warning  tliat  a  bill  was  likely  to  be  hied  in  C'lumceiy  against 
him,  had  carried  forward  with  added  zeal  tlie  business  already 
commenced,  of  arranging  with  another  firm  his  share  in  tlic 
pr(jhts  likely  to  result  from  the  prosecution  of  Esther  r>ycliffe'3 
claim. 

Jermyn's  star  was  certainly  going  down,  and  Johnson  did 
not  feel  an  unmitigated  grief.  IJeyond  some  troublesome  dcc- 
laratifuis  as  to  his  actual  share  in  trjinsactions  in  which  his 
name  had  been  used.  .Tolmson  saw  iu)tliing  i'(.)rmidable  in  pros- 
pect for  himself.  Ib>  was  not  going  to  be  ruined,  thougl; 
Jermyn  ])robal)ly  was:  he  was  not  a  highflyer,  but  a  mere 
climi)ing-bird.  who  could  liold  on  and  get  his  liveliliood  just  as 
well  if  Ins  wings  wei-e  cli[)[)ed  a  little.  And.  in  the  mi^an  time, 
hi'i'C  was  sduieiliin';-  to  l)e  gained  in  this  I'yclitTe  business, 
wliich,  it  was  not  unple;isant  to  tliink".  Avas  a  nut  tliat  Jermyn 
liail  inti'uded  to  keep  for  his  own  ]»articulai'  ci-adcing.  and  wliich 
would  b"  I'atlier  a  sev(n'e  astonisluuent  to  ^Ii'.  Harold  'I'ran- 
some,  wliose  manners  towards  ri'Spectabh:  agents  were  such  as 
leave  a  smart  in  a  man  of  spirit. 

Under  the  stimulus  of  small  many-mixed  motives  like  these, 
a  great  deal  of  busiiu^ss  has  hcen  done  in  the  world  by  well- 
clad  and.  in  IS.'!.'!,  clean-shaven  men.  whose  nanu's  ar«>  on  cliarity- 
lists,  and  who  do  not  know  llial  the}-  are  liase.  ?ylr.  Jolmsoir.s 
character  was  not  much  moi'c  icxccptional  than  his  doubh'  chin. 

Xo  system,  rebgious  or  ]iol!tical.  T  believe,  has  laid  ir  down  as 
a  i)rincipli^  thai  all  men  are  alik"  virtuous,  or  i>ven  that  all  the 
'■eo]ile  rated  for  IjSO  lic-a.ses  :,ic   ■.:  lionor  to  their  species. 
VOL.  III.  2-4 


870  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  EADICAL. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIIL 

^'he  down  we  rest  on  in  our  aery  dreams 

lias  not  been  plucked  from  birds  that  Yixc  and  smart: 

'T  is  Init  warm  suow,  that  melts  not. 

TiiF  story  and  the  prospect  revealed  to  Esther  hy  the  law- 
yers' letter,  whieli  she  and  her  futher  studied  t'lgetlier,  had 
made  an  iiujiression  on  ln.'r  ver}-  different  froni  ^vllat  slu;  had 
been  nsc^d  to  hgtire  to  herself  in  her  many  day-di'eams  as  to  the 
elf'ect  of  a  sudden  <devati(jn  in  raidv  and  i'ortini(\  In  liei'  day- 
dreams she  had  not  traeed  out  the  means  ])y  \vhi(di  sncli  a 
change  could  he  Ijrought  about ;  in  fact,  tlie  change  liad  scenied 
impossible  to  her,  exce|)t  in  her  little  juavati;  L'tii|iia.  wliicli, 
like  other  Utopias,  was  filled  with  delightful  results,  indepen- 
dent of  prrjcesses.  Ibit  her  nnnd  had  iixed  itself  lialatual]}' 
on  the  signs  and  luxuries  of  ladyhocjd.  for  whii.'h  she  hail  the 
keenest  perce])tion.  Slie  had  seen  tlie  very  mat  in  luu-  cai-riage, 
lia.d  seented  tlie  di'ied  rosedea\'es  in  her  corridors,  liad  ielt  the 
soft  carjiets  nnder  licv  pretty  fcjet,  and  se('n  hersell'.  as  slie  rose 
fi'om  her  sofa  cusliions.  in  the  crystal  iianel  that  i-ejlrcted  a 
long  drawing-room,  wlnu'e  the  conserv.itor}'  ilowcrs  and  tlu; 
pietui'e.s  of  lair  women  ]rft  hei'  still  with  the  su.jircniaey  of 
chai-m.  She  had  tiMi/Meu  t];e  m.'ii'ble-fii'ui  gravf'l  ed'  h'U- '_:-ai'(h'n- 
wall:s  and  the  soft  d'-'-o  turf  oi'  her  lawn  ;  she  h;a]  liad  hei' 
sei'vaiils  aliDuf  her  lilf-d  \vit]i  adoring  I'-spect,  beeause  of  her 
kindness  as  wi'll  as  lier  grace  and  bi-auty  ;  and  she  liad  had 
sevei-al  aei-oni jtli.^hed  ca\'aliers  all  at  onec  suing  for  her  hanu 
. —  oil"  of  whom,  uniting  very  hieh  birth  witli  long  dark  eye- 
lashes and  the  mr>st  distinguished  talents,  site  secntly  jire- 
ieri'i'd.  ihou'^di  his  pride  and  Iuts  hin^lred  an  avowal,  and 
su])])lied  the  inestim:ii)lf  intei'cst  of  retarflati^n.  The  glinijises 
she  had  had  in  Iht  brief  life  as  a  family  governess,  su'  ob-'' 
lier  r<'a(iy  taeulty  ^■.  i1  h  details  enmigh  oi  deli.^r]itfid  still  life- 
to    lurnish    Iier    day-drrams  ;    and    no   »)ne    who    has   not,    like 


FELIX    HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  871 

Esther,  a  strong  natural  prompting  and  susceptibility  towards 
such  things,  and  has  at  the  same  time  suffered  from  the  pres- 
ence of  opposite  conditions,  can  understand  how  })Owerfully 
those  minor  accidents  of  rank  which  please  the  fastidious  sense 
can  })reoccupy  the  imagination. 

It  seemed  that  almost  everything  in  her  day-dreams  —  cava- 
liers apart  —  must  be  found  at  Transome  Court.  But  now  that 
fancy  was  becoming  real,  and  the  impossible  appeared  possible, 
Esther  found  the  balance  of  her  attention  reversed  :  now  that  her 
ladyhood  was  not  simply  in  Utopia,  she  found  luM'self  arrested 
and  })ain fully  grasped  by  the  means  through  which  tlie  lady- 
h(>od  was  to  be  obtaint'd.  To  her  inexperience  this  strange 
story  of  an  alienated  iidieritance,  of  such  a  last  representative 
of  pure-blooded  lineage  as  old  Thomas  'J'l'ansome  the  bill- 
sticker,  above  all  of  the  dispossession  hanging  over  those  who 
actually  held,  and  had  ex[)ected  always  to  hold,  the  wealth  and 
])()sition  wliich  wer(!  suddenly  announced  to  bo  rightly  hers  — 
all  thi.'se  things  made  a  picture,  not  for  her  own  t;!stes  and 
fancies  to  lloat  in  with  i^lysian  indulgence,  but  in  wliich  she 
was  conipelleil  to  gaze  on  the  degrading  hard  ex])ei'ienee  of 
otlier  human  Ix-iugs.  and  on  a  humiliating  loss  whicli  was  the 
obverse  of  her  owu  Yvnnd  gain.  ICven  in  her  tim('S  of  most 
niitrou])led  (Egoism  i'ls'ilier  shrank  from  anytliiu'^^  ungenerous  ; 
and  tlit>  fact  lliat  she  liad  a  very  lively  image  oi  Harold  Tran- 
some and  his  gypsy-eyed  boy  in  lier  mind,  gave  adilitional  dis- 
tinctness to  the  thouglit  tliat  if  she  entei'ed  tliey  must  ih-jiart. 
(>f  tlie  elder  Ti-a!isoini's  slie  liad  a  dimmei-  vision,  and  they 
were  neei'ssarily  in  tlie  bad-; '.iron nil  to  Ikt  sym]Xithy. 

She  and  lier  fatlier  sat  witli  tlieir  liands  lo(■l^ed.  as  tliey  might 
liave  done  if  tliey  liad  been  listeniiiL;-  to  a  solrmii  oracle  in  the 
ilays  of  (.»ld  revealing  uiiknown  kinship  and  rightful  Iieirdoni. 
It  was  not  that  Esther  had  iiiiy  tlion^-ht  of  renounciiiLr  her  f't'i'- 
lune;  slie  was  ineapablf.  in  these  nionii'iits.  of  condensing' her 
vas^nie  ideas  and  feelings  into  any  d  i>tinct  plan  of  aclion.  noi' 
indeed  did  it  seem  tliat  slu'  wa.s  eabeil  upon  to  act  witli  anv 
pi'omptitudt\  It  was  only  that  she  was  consi-ion.s  of  being 
stranu'ely  awed  by  something  that  was  called  Li'ood  fortune; 
and  tiie  awe  shut  out   any  schenic   vi  rejection  as  h;uc]:  as  any 


S72  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

triumphant  joy  in  acceptance.  Her  first  father,  she  learned, 
IkkI  died  disapj^ointed  and  in  wrongful  imprisonment,  and  an 
undefined  sense  of  Nemesis  seemed  half  to  sanctify  her  inheri- 
tance, and  counteract  its  apparent  arbitrariness. 

Felix  Holt  was  present  in  her  mind  throughout:  what  ho 
would  say  was  an  iuKiginary  commentary  that  she  Avas  con- 
stantly framing,  and  the  words  that  she  most  frequently  gave 
him  —  for  she  dranuitized  under  the  inspiration  of  a  sadness 
slightly  bitter  —  were  of  this  kind:  "That  is  clearly  your  des- 
tiny—  to  be  aristocratic,  to  be  rich.  I  always  saw  that  our 
l(.ts  lay  widely  apart.  You  are  not  fit  for  poverty,  or  any  work 
of  ditticulty.  But  remember  what  I  once  siiid  to  you  about  a 
vision  of  conse(|uenccs ;  take  care  where  your  fortune  leads 
you." 

Her  father  had  not  spoken  since  they  had  ended  their  study 
and  discussion  of  the  story  and  the  evidence  as  it  was  p]'eseutcd 
to  tliem.  Into  tliis  he  had  entered  with  his  usual  penetrating 
activity  ;  but  he  was  so  accustomed  to  the  impersonal  study 
of  narrative,  that  even  in  tliese  excejitional  moments  the  habit 
of  lialf  a  century  ass(M'ted  itself,  and  he  seemed  sometimes  not 
to  distinguish  the  case  of  Esther's  inheritance  from  a:  sUn-y  in 
aricient  history,  until  some  detail  I'ccalled  him  to  tlie  ]  i-ofound 
feeling  that  a  great,  great  cliauge  miglit  be  coming  ovei'  tlie  Iif(> 
of  this  child  who  was  so  close  to  liiiu.  At  last  he  relii])scd  into 
total  silence,  and  for  some  time  Ivsther  was  not  moved  to  inter- 
rupt it.  He  had  sunk  ])ack  in  liis  cliair,  with  his  hand  locked 
in  fiers,  .Tiul  was  pursuing  a  sort  of  pi'ayerful  meditation:  lie 
lilted  up  no  foi'inal  ]i(>titioii,  l)ut  it  was  as  if  liis  soul  ti'avelled 
again  over  tlie  facts  he  had  been  considering  in  tiie  company 
rif  a,  guide  i'(!ady  to  ins])ire  and  correct  him.  lie  was  striving 
to  j>urify  his  feeling  in  tliis  matter  from  selfish  or  worldly- 
dross —  a,  striving  which  is  that  pravci'  without  ceasing,  sure 
to  wrest  an  answer  by  its  sublime  impoi't unity. 

There  is  no  knrtwiu'^-  how  long  they  might  have  sat  in  this 
way,  if  it  had  not:  been  for  the  inevitable  Tjyddy  remindin.g 
them  dismally  of  dinner. 

■'•  Yes,  Lyddy,  we  come,"  said  Esther ;  and  tlien.  before 
niovine  — 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  373 

"Is  there  any  advice  you  have  in  your  mind  for  me,  father  ?  -' 
The  sense  of  awe  was  growing  in  Estlier.  Pier  intensest  life 
was  no  h)nger  in  her  dreams,  where  she  made  things  to  hei'  own 
mind :  she  was  moving  in  a  world  charged  with  forces. 

''Not  yet,  my  dear  —  save  this  :  that  you  will  seek  special 
illumination  in  this  juncture,  and,  above  all,  be  watchful  that 
your  soul  be  not  lifted  up  within  you  by  what,  rightly  consid- 
ered, is  rather  an  increase  of  charge,  and  a  call  upon  you  to 
walk  along  a  path  which,  is  indeed  easy  to  the  llesh,  but  dan- 
gerous to  the  spirit/' 

'•You  would  always  live  with  me,  father?*'  Estlier  spoke 
uiuler  a  strong  impulse — partly  affection,  ])artly  the  need  to 
grasp  at  some  moral  help.  But  she  had  no  souium'  utt(n'tMl  the 
words  than  they  raised  a  vision,  showing,  as  by  a  flash  of 
lightning,  the  incongruity  of  that  })ast  which  had  created  the 
sanctities  and  affections  of  her  life  with  that  future  which  was 
coming  to  her.  .  .  .  The  little  rusty  old  minister,  with  the  one 
luxury  of  his  Sunday  evening  pi[)e,  smoked  up  the  kitchen  chim- 
ney, coming  to  live  in  the  midst  of  grandeur  .  .  .  but  no  I  her 
f.-itlier,  with  the  grandrur  of  his  past  soi'row  and  his  long  strug- 
gling labors,  forsaking  his  vocation,  and  vulgaidy  accejjting  an 
exist(mce  unsuitcd  to  him.  .  .  .  Esther's  face  flushed  with  tlie 
ex<'i(tunent  of  this  vision  and  its  reversed  intt'rpretation.  which 
live  months  ago  she  would  havf  been  inca])al)le  of  seeing.  Ib'r 
question  to  her  i'athrr  srenu'd  like  a  mockery;  she  was 
ashanu'd.     lie  answei'ed  slowly  — 

" 'I'oueh  not  that  chord  yet.  i/hild.  T  niust  learn  to  think 
of  thy  lot  accoi'ding  to  the  diMiiands  of  I'rovidenco.  We  will 
rc^t  awhile  from  the  subject  ;  and  I  will  seek  calmness  in  my 
ordinary  duties." 

'I'he  next  morning  nothin<_:  more  was  said.  ]\Ir.  Tjvon  was 
absorbed  in  liis  sci-iuoiMnakim;.  for  it  was  ]\v[\r  the  eml  of  ']\r 
week,  and  l^sther  was  oliliged  to  aftriid  to  her  pu])ils.  .Mrs. 
Holt  camr  by  invitation  witli  little  dol)  to  share  thrdr  diiiiitT 
of  roasl-nieat:  and.  after  luuch  of  what  the  minister  called 
utipi-otitable  discourse,  she  was  quitting  the  house  when  she 
ha>tened  l)ack  with  an  astonished  face,  to  tell  ^Ii.  Ja-ou  o'-d 
E>f"iLer.  wlu)   were   ali'eady  in    'v\()nd(U-   at   ci'ashiu'j.  t.lnmde  'n^ 


374  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

sounds  on  the  pavement,  that  there  was  a  carriage  stopping 
and  stamping  at  the  entry  into  Malthouse  Yard,  with  "all 
sorts  of  fine  liveries,''  and  a  lady  and  gentleman  inside.  Mr. 
Lyon  and  Esther  looked  at  each  other,  both  having  the  same 
name  in  their  minds. 

"  If  it 's  'Mv.  Transome  or  somebody  else  as  is  great,  Mr. 
Lyon,"  urged  ^Nlrs.  Holt,  ''  you  '11  remember  my  son,  and  say 
he  's  got  a  n^other  with  a  character  they  may  inquire  into  as 
much  as  they  like.  And  never  nund  what  Felix  says,  for  he  "s 
so  masterful  he  'd  stay  in  prison  and  be  transported  whether 
or  no,  only  to  have  his  own  way.  For  it 's  not  to  be  thought 
but  wliat  the  great  people  could  get  him  oif  if  they  would; 
and  it  "s  very  hard  with  a  King  in  t]ic  country  and  all  the 
texts  in  Proverbs  about  the  King's  countenance,  and  Solomon 
and  tlie  live  l^aby  —  " 

Mr.  Lyon  lil'tod  up  his  hand  doprecatingly,  and  Mrs.  ILdt 
rf'tre;it<'d  from  the  ])arlor-dor)r  to  a  corner  of  tlir;  kit(dien.  tlie 
outer  doorway  being  octeiipicd  by  Dominic,  wlio  was  inquiring 
if  Mr.  and  Miss  Lyon  wei-e  at  liome,  and  could  receive  ^Irs. 
Transom"  and  ]\Ir.  Harold  Tran<omc.  While  Dominie  went 
back  to  tilt'  carriage  .Mrs.  Holt  e'scaped  Avitli  lier  tinv  eom- 
panion  to  Zae.hary's.  the  ]iew-o])(!iier,  observiiic,''  to  byddy  that 
she  knew  hersell'.  and  was  not,  that  woman  to  sfay  wliere  she 
mi'_,dit  not  V)e  wanted  ;  wliereu])oiL  Lyddy.  difii'i-ing  fundamen- 
tally, admonished  Iut  jiai'tiiiL,''  ear  that  it  was  well  it  she  knew 
liei'sclf  to  be  dust  and  ;islies  —  sihuitly  f^xt'Uidiiig  the  ajjpliea- 
tirui  o['  this  remarlc  to  Mi's.  Ih-ans'-mc  as  she  saw  tin'  rail  lady 
swc"]!  in  arrayed  in  lier  rieh  lilaek  and  fur.  ^\■ith  that  line 
gentleman  Ixdnnd  luir  wliose  thiek  topknot  of  wavy  haii', 
S])arh:lin'_r  I'iu'j-.  dai-k  eomph-xioT!.  and  general  air  oi  woihlly 
exaltation  uneoinKM't ed  with  eha])el,  Avere  painfrJly  suggestive 
to  Lsaldy  of  I[(M'(jc1,  I'ontius  i'ilate,  or  the  ]iiuch-quot(H'l 
Gallio, 

Harold  Ti-ansome.  '^TcctinL:  F.-ther  [^M'acefully,  presented  his 
mother,  whose  <'aL,dt'-]ike  Lrlanee.  tixnl  (jn  lier  from  the  first 
moment  of  ent(u■inL^  seemed  to  !-]-'ii>T  to  ]iierce  tier  thi'ouudi. 
^L■s.  Transome  haroly  noticed  Mr.  f.yon.  not  i'rom  studied 
iiauL^ditiness,  but  from  siieer  mental  inabiiitv  to  consider  hiit 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  375 

—  as  a  person  ignorant  of  natural  liistory  is  nnable  to  consider 
a  fresh-water  polype  otherwise  than  as  a  sort  of  animated 
weed,  eertainly  not  fit  for  tahle.  But  Harold  saw  that  liis 
mother  was  agreeably  struck  by  Esther,  who  indeed  showed 
to  niueh  ;i(lvantag'e.  She  was  not  at  all  taken  by  surprise, 
and  maiiilaiiii'd  a  digniHed  (piictAule  ;  but  her  previous  knowl- 
edge and  reflection  about  th  '  possible  dispossession  of  these 
Transonies  gave  her  a  softened  feeling  towards  them  which 
tinged  her  manners  very  agreeably. 

Harold  was  carefully  polite  to  the  minister,  throwing  out  a 
word  to  make  liim  understand  that  he  liad  an  important  })r;rt 
in  the  im})ortant  busim-ss  which  had  brought  this  unannounced 
visit;  and  the  lour  made  a  grou})  seated  not  far  off  each  other 
near  the  window,  ]Mrs.  Transome  and  Esther  being  on  the 
sofa. 

"  You  must  be  astonislied  at  a  visit  from  me,  ^liss  Lyon," 
i^lrs.  Transome  began  ;  "  I  S(ddom  come  to  Treby  ^bigiia. 
Now  I  see  you,  the  visit  is  an  unex|)eeted  [deasure  ;  but  tlie 
cause  ol'  my  coming  is  busivLess  of  a  serious  nature,  v.'hich  my 
son  will  commnnic;ite  to  you."' 

••^  T  ou'_;-ht  to  begin  bv  saying  that  wliwt  T  have  to  announce 
to  vou  is  the  revt'i  si>  ol'  dis;e_;'reeable.  Miss  Lyon,''  s:iid  Harold, 
with  liv(dy  ease.  '^' I  don't  suppose  (hew(,rid  would  consider 
it  vei'v  good  news  iV)r  me  ;  but  a  rejected  eaniHd.ite.  y\r.  I.yon,"' 
Harold  went  on.  (nrnino;  gi-;ieionsly  to  the  minister,  ••iie^'ins 
to  be  inured  to  loss  and  misfoi'tune."" 

" 'I'ruly.  sii'."  said  'Mr.  1-yon.  with  a  ratlier  sad  solemnity, 
"your  alhision  liath  a  gi-ievous  lieai-in;_:  for  nis".  but  I  will  n.'l, 
retard  yonr  ])resent  purposi'  liy  I'urtiier  remark." 

'•  Y"n  will  Ufvei'  gue:-:s  what  I  liave  to  di>elo-;r.''  said  ll:ir- 
old.  again  looking  at  Ivstlier,  ••  unless,  indi'ed,  you  have  iiad 
some   jirevifius   intimation   of  it." 

'■Does  it  reler  to  law  ;nid  inh' fitanee  ? '"  said  E-ther,  witl\ 
a  smile.  Slie  was  already  bri-litened  by  Harold's  maimer. 
Tile  news  seemed  to  be  losing  its  cldllness.  and  to  be  something 
really  belouL^duL,''  io  warm,  com  I  oi  fable,  intei'esting  life. 

••Then  you  ha\e  alreadv  li.ard  of  it?''  said  Tlai-old,  in- 
wardly  vexed,  but  sutiieiently  jjiepared  not  to  seem  so. 


376  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"  Only  yesterday,"  said  Esther,  quite  simply.  "I  received 
a  letter  from  some  lawyers  with  a  statement  of  many  surpris- 
ing things,  showing  that  I  was  an  heiress"  —  here  she  turned 
very  prettily  to  address  Mrs.  Transome  —  "  which,  as  you  may 
imagine,  is  one  of  the  last  things  I  could  have  supposed  myself 
to  be." 

^•'My  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Transome  with  elderly  grace,  just 
laying  her  hand  for  an  instant  on  Esther's,  ''it  is  a  lot  that 
would  become  you  admirably." 

Esther  blushed,  and  said  playfully  — 

"  Oh,  I  know  what  to  buy  with  fifty  pounds  a-year,  but  I 
know  the  price  of  nothing  beyond  that." 

Her  father  sat  looking  at  her  through  his  spectacles,  strok- 
ing his  chin.  It  was  amazing  to  herself  that  she  was  tak- 
ing so  lightly  now  what  had  caused  her  such  deep  emotion 
yesterday. 

"  I  dare  say,  then,"  said  Harold,  "  you  arc  more  fully  pos- 
sessed of  particulars  than  I  am.  So  that  my  mother  and  I 
need  oidy  tell  you  what  no  one  else  can  tell  you  —  that  is, 
what  are  her  and  my  feelings  and  washes  under  these  new  and 
unex])c('tcd  circumstances." 

"\  am  most  anxious,"  said  Esther,  with  a  grave  beautiful 
look  of  respect  to  ]Mrs.  Transome  —  ''most  anxious  on  that 
])oint.  Indeed,  being  of  course  in  uncertainty  about  it,  I  have 
not  yet,  known  whether  I  could  rejoice."  INFrs.  Transome's 
ghmce  had  softened.     She  liked  Esther  to  look  at  her. 

"  <')ur  chief  anxiety,"  she  said,  knowing  what  Harold  wished 
her  to  say,  ''is,  that  there  may  be  no  contest,  no  useless  ex- 
])enditure  of  money.  Of  course  we  will  surrender  Avhat  can 
l>e  right  Cully  claimed." 

"~\\\-  mother  exju'esses  our  feeling  precisely,  INIiss  Lyon," 
said  Ibiiold.  "  And  I  'm  sure,  Mr.  Lyon,  you  will  understand 
our  desire." 

"Assuredly,  sir.  l\Iy  daughter  would  in  any  case  liave  had 
my  advice  to  seek  a  conclusion  which  would  involve  no  strife. 
We  endeavor,  sir,  in  oui'  body,  to  hold  to  the  apostolic  rule  that 
one  Christian  brolher  s^v  ''J']  not  go  to  Law  with  another;  aiid 
1,  for  my  part,  would   exteiil   <liis  rule  to  all  my  fellow-men, 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  377 

apprehending  that  the  practice  of  our  courts  is  little  consistent 
witli  the  simplicity  that  is  in  Christ." 

"If  it  is  to  depend  on  my  will,'^  said  Esther,  "there  is 
nothing  that  Avould  be  more  repugnant  to  me  than  any 
struggle  on  such  a  subject.  But  can't  tlie  lawyers  go  on 
doing  what  they  will  in  spite  of  me  ?  It  seems  that  this  is 
what  they  mean." 

"  Not  exactly,"  said  Harold,  smiling.  "  Of  course  they  live 
by  such  struggles  as  you  dislike.  But  we  can  thwart  them  by 
determining  not  to  quarrel.  It  is  desirable  that  we  should 
consider  the  affair  together,  and  put  it  into  the  liands  of  honor- 
able solicitors.  I  assure  you  we  Transomes  will  not  contend 
for  what  is  not  our  own." 

"And  this  is  what  I  have  come  to  beg  of  yon,"  said  Mrs. 
Transome.  "  It  is  that  you  will  come  to  Transome  Court  —  and 
let  us  take  full  time  to  arrange  matters.  Do  oblige  me :  you 
shall  not  be  teased  nu)re  than  you  like  by  an  old  woman  :  you 
shall  do  just  as  you  pleast>,  and  become  acquainted  with  your 
future  honi(>,  since  it  is  to  be  yours.  I  can  tell  you  a  world  of 
things  that  you  will  want  to  know  ;  and  the  business  can  pro- 
ceed pr()})erly." 

"  T)o  cinisent."  said  Harold,  with  wini.iing  brevity. 

]*lsther  was  Ibislu'd,  and  her  (^'es  v/ere  bright.  It  wns  im- 
])ossible  for  her  not  to  I'eel  that  the  proposal  was  a  more  ttunpt- 
ing  step  towards  her  change  of  condition  than  slu^  could  have 
thought  of  bcl'orcliand.  Slu^  had  forgotten  tlint  slie  was  in 
any  trouble,  lint  she  looked  towards  hrr  bithri',  who  was 
again  stroking  his  cliin,  as  was  Ids  habit  when  he  was  doubt- 
ing and  deliberating. 

"I  hope  you  do  not  ilisa]>]irov('  of  INliss  Lyon's  granting  us 
this  favor?"  said  Harold  to  the  niiinster. 

'"  I  have  nothing  to  oppiisc  to  it,  sir,  if  my  daughter's  own 
mind  is  clear  as  to  Inn'  course." 

"  Vou  will  C(M!ie  now  with  us,"  said  Mrs.  Transome, 
persuasi\'ely.     "  "S'ou  will  'j:(^  liaik  with  us  in  the  carriage." 

Harold  was  highly-  gratiliri*  wiili  the  pert'eetion  oi  his 
mother's  manner  on  this  (M'r:'-'(ii.  ^\■hi(•h  h"  had  Ionised  for. 
ward  to  as  diliicult.     Since   !'■■  had  come  dome  aL'a.in,  he  had 


378  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

never  seen  her  so  much  at  her  ease,  or  with  so  much  benig- 
nancy  in  her  face.  The  secret  lay  in  tlie  charm  of  Esther's 
sweet  young  deference,  a  sort  of  charm  tliat  had  not  before 
entered  into  ^Mrs.  Transome's  ekierly  life.  Esther's  pretty 
behavior,  it  must  be  confessed,  was  not  fed  entirely  from  lofty 
moral  sources :  over  and  above  her  really  generous  feeling,  she 
enjoyed  ^Mrs.  Transome's  accent,  the  high-bred  quietness  of  her 
speech,  the  delicate  odor  of  her  drapery.  She  had  always 
thought  that  life  must  be  particularly  easy  if  one  could  pass  it 
among  refined  people  ;  and  so  it  seemed  at  this  moment.  She 
wished,  uiimixedly,  to  go  to  Transonic  Court. 

''Since  my  father  has  no  objection,"  she  said,  "and  you 
urge  me  so  kindly.  But  1  must  beg  for  time  to  pa'di  up  a  few 
clothes." 

"By  all  means,"  said  Mrs.  Transome.  "We  are  not  at  all 
pressed." 

When  Esther  had  left  the  room,  Harold  said,  '-Apart  from 
our  immediate  reason  for  coming,  Mr.  Lyon,  I  could  have 
wished  to  see  you  about  these  unhappy  consequences  of  the 
election  contest.  But  you  -will  uiidei'stand  that  I  have  been 
much  preoccupied  with  })rivate  affairs." 

"  You  have  well  said  that  tlie  consequences  are  unhnp])V, 
sir.  And  Itiit  for  a  reliance  on  sometliiiig  nio]-e  tlian  luiinan 
oalenlation,  I  know  not  wliiidi  I  should  most  l)i'w;iil — the 
sr'andal  wliich  wrong-di'aliim'  lias  brought  on  right  ]M'in('i))les, 
or  the  snai'es  which  it  laid  lV)i'  the  feet  <^f  a  young  man  wlio  is 
dear  to  )ue.  '  ( )ne  soweth.  aiul  another  reapeth,'  is  a  verity 
tlu'it  applies  to  evil  as  well  as  irood." 

"  Vou  are  referring  1o  I'^elix  Ifolt.  T  have  not  m^glected 
steps  ix)  secure  the  best  legal  lielp  foi'  the  ])]"isoners  ;  but  I  am 
given  to  understand  that  Molt  rei'uses  any  aid  iVoni  me.  I 
ho])e  he  will  not  go  rashly  to  wcu'k  in  speaking  in  Ins  own  de- 
fence  wit  hi  )nr  any  legal  insti'uction.  Tt  is  an  oj^probrium  of 
our  law  that  no  counsel  is  allowed  to  plead  for  the  jirisoner  in 
cases  of  felony.  A  I'eady  toiigu(>  may  do  a.  man  as  much  harm 
as  g(^od  in  a  court  ol  justiee.  lie  piipies  himself  on  making  a 
display,  and  dis])lays  a  littl*^  too  mueh." 

"  Sir,  you  know  him  not,"  saitl  the  little  minister,  in  his 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  379 

deeper  tone.  "  He  would  not  accept,  even  if  it  were  accorded, 
a  dei'i-nee  wherein  the  truth  was  screened  or  avoided, — not 
from  a  vaiiiylorious  spirit  oi'  self-exhibition,  for  he  hath  a  sin- 
gular directness  and  simplicity  of  speech;  but  from  an  averse- 
ness  to  a  profession  wherein  a  man  may  without  shame  seek 
to  justify  the  wi(dv(Ml  for  I'eward,  and  take  away  the  righteous- 
ness of  the  rigliteous  from  lum/' 

"It's  a  pity  a  line  young  fellow  should  do  himself  harm  by 
fanatical  notions  of  that  sort.  I  could  at  least  have  procured 
the  advantage  of  first-rate  consultation.  He  did  n't  look  to 
me  like  a  dri'amy  personage." 

^'  Xor  is  he  dreamy  ;  rather,  his  excess  lies  in  being  too 
practical.'' 

'•' \\'ell,  I  hope  you  will  not  encourage  him  in  such  irration- 
ality :  the  (piestiun  is  not  one  of  misreju'csentation,  l)ut  of 
adjusting  fact,  so  as  to  raise  it  to  the  power  of  evidence. 
Don't  you  see  that  ?  "' 

'•'I  do,  I  do.  l)Ut  I  disti'iist  not  h'elix  Holt's  discernment 
in  I'cgard  to  his  own  case.  He  builds  not  on  doubtful  things, 
and  ludh  no  illusory  loprs;  on  the  contrary,  he  is  of  a  too- 
scoi'iiful  incredulity  where  J  would  fain  see  a  more  (duldlike 
faith.  TUit  he  -will  lujld  no  belief  without  action  corres^iond- 
iiig  thereto;  and  tlie  occasion  of  his  return  to  tliis  his  native 
jilace  at  a  time  which  lias  prtjvt  d  i'atal,  v;as  u.o  other  than  his 
I'esoh'c  to  hinder  the  sale  ol'  sonu^  drugs,  whirli  liad  chiefly 
snpj)orted  his  luotlier.  but  wliich  liis  lietter  knowledge  sho^^■cd 
him  t(.)  be  ])ei'nicious  totlie  liuman  fi-ame.  lie  underiook  tc 
sujiport  her  i>y  ]ii>  own  ial)oi':  but.  sir.  !  i<ray  you  to  mark - 
and  old  as  I  am,  1  asuII  not  deny  th;;i  tliis  young  iuan  in^(ructA^ 
me  hertdn  —  I  ]iiay  you  to  marlv  t'ne  puisoiu/us  confusion  of 
good  and  e^'il  Avliicli  is  llie  wide-soreadnig  effect  of  vicious 
]")ractioes.  Througli  tlie  use  ol'  undue  elect  ioneering  means  — 
concerning  whicl!.  liowevcr.  1  do  not  accust^  you  fartlier  tlian 
of  liaving  aded  tln'  piu't  of  iiiui  who  washv'S  '';i::  iiarids  when 
he  ilclivcrs  u])  to  others  the  exercise  oi'  an  iiuqiutous  power  — 
J-'elix  Holt  is.  I  will  not  scruple  to  >aA".  the  innocent  \-ictim  of 
a  riot  :  and  tliat  deed  of  sti'ict  honesty,  wluu'eby  he  took  on 
himsidf    tlie    chajge    of   his  ae-cd    mother,   seems   now  to  have 


880  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

deprived  her  of  sufficient  bread,  and  is  even  an  occasion  of 
reproach  to  him  from  the  weaker  brethren.'' 

"  I  shall  be  proud  to  su])ply  her  as  amply  as  you  think 
desirable,"  said  Harold,  not  enjoyinj^'  this  lecture. 

"  I  will  pray  you  to  speak  of  this  question  with  my  daughter, 
will),  it  a})})t'ars,  may  herself  have  large  means  at  command, 
and  would  desire  to  minister  to  ^Irs.  Holt's  needs  with  all 
friendsliip  and  delicacy.  For  the  })resent,  I  can  take  care  that 
she  lacks  nothing  essi'ntial." 

As  Mr.  Lyon  was  speaking,  Esther  re-entered,  equipped  for 
her  drive.  She  laid  linr  hand  on  her  father's  arm,  and  said, 
"You  will  let  my  pui)ils  know  at  once,  will  you,  father  ?" 

"  Doubtless,  my  dear,"  said  the  old  man,  trembling  a  little 
under  the  feeding  that  this  depai-ture  of  Esther's  was  a  crisis. 
Nothing  again  would  be  as  it  had  been  in  their  mutual  life. 
But  he  feared  that  he  was  being  m;istered  by  a  too  tender  self- 
regard,  and  sti'uggled  to  keep  himself  calm. 

Mrs.  Transome  a,nd  Harold  had  both  risen. 

"If  you  ;ire  cpute  ready,  Miss  Lyon,"  said  Harold,  divining 
that  the  fathen-  and  daughttu' would  like  to  have  an  unobservetl 
moment,  "  1  will  take  my  mother  to  the  carriage,  and  come 
back  for  ycni."" 

When  they  were  alone,  Esther  })ut  her  hands  on  her  fathei-'s 
shoulders  and  kissed  him. 

"  Lhis  will  not  be  a  grief  to  you,  I  hope,  father  ?  You  think 
it  is  btitter  tliat  t  should  go  '.'  '' 

^'l:\\i\,  child,  L  ;im   weal';.      Liit  I  woidd  fain  be  capable  (d'  a 
joy  .'jnite  ajiai't    from  tlie  accidents  of  my  aged  earlJily   I'xisl- 
ence,  which,  indeed,  is  a  l^ctiy  and  almost  dried-\q)  Inuiitain  -- 
wher(;as  to  the  reci'ittive  soul  tlie  river  of  lii'e  jjauseih  iiot,  nor 
is  (iiminish<'(L"' 

'•  Pcihaps  you  will  see  f'elix  |[o!t  agaiji  and  t(dl  him  every- 
thing ?" 

'•Shall  I  say  aught  to  him  for  }''iu  ?  "' 

"  (Jh  no;  only  that  dob  Tuilgc  ha^  a  little  HaniKil  sliirt  au^l 
a  box  of  lozenges.""  said  ICstliei'.  siiiiiiiig.  "Ah.  I  liear  Mr. 
Traiisome.  (;omin,i;  back.  I  nuist  say  gooddjy  to  Lytldy.  ulse 
she.  will  cTy  over  mv  har'i  ])eart." 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  381 

In  spite  of  all  the  yrave  tlioughts  that  had  l>een,  Esther  felt 
it  a  very  pleasant  as  well  as  new  experience  to  be  led.  to  the 
carriage  by  Harold  Transome,  to  be  seated  ou  soft  cushions, 
and  bowled  along,  looked  at  admiringly  and  deferentially  by  a 
person  o})posite,  whom  it  was  agreeable  to  look  at  in  return, 
and  talked  to  with  suavity  and  livcdiness.  Towards  what 
pros})ect  \vas  that  easy  carriage  really  leading  her?  She 
could  not  be  always  asking  lierself  ?.Ientor-like  qiu^stions. 
Her  young  bright  nature  ■was  ratlu>r  ^veary  of  the  sadness 
that  had  grown  heaviei'  in  these  last  weeks,  like  a  chill  white 
]nist  hopelessly  veiling  the  day.  Her  fortune  was  beginning 
to  appear  wortliy  of  being  called  good  fortune.  She  had  come 
to  a  new  stage  in  her  journey  ;  a  ne'w  day  had  arisen  on  new 
scenes,  and  her  young  untired  spirit  was  full  of  curiosity. 


CHAPITER   XXXIX. 

No  man  boliovps  that  iiiaiiy-fcxriin'd  kiiowlcilLi-o  ami  skill — as  a  ]ust  Idea 
of  tli(^  snlar  system,  or  the  ])(nvcr  nf  ])aintiii'j,;  flcsli,  or  of  rcailiii<;'  written 
harmonies  —  can  come  late  ami  of  a  suilileii  :  yet  many  will  not  stick  at 
lielievint;  that  lia)i])iness  can  come  at  an\'  ilay  ami  honr  soleh"  liy  a  ne\v 
(lisjiosition  of  e\"ents;  tlionn'h  thi're  is  noiiniit  least  caiial'le  of  a  imiLrical 
jiroihiction  than  a  niortal's  happines-;,  wliieli  is  mainly  a  complex  of  liaMinal 
relations  an(lilis])ositioiis  not  lo  In- w  rdiiulil  liy  news  from  toi'ci_oi  part-,orany 
\sliirling  uf  fortum;"s  wheel  for  one  on  wlio-c  lirow  'rime  ha-  wi'itten  le^'ilily. 

SoMK  days  after  l\sther's  arrival  al  Transdiuc  Court,  Dcnner, 
coming  to  (h'ess  Mrs.  Transonic  botoi'c  dinner  —  a  Ial;oroi'  love 
for  which  she  liad  ample  IcisniT  now — louiid  her  mistr(\ss 
seated  with  more  tiiaii  ever  of  rliaf  marble  as]i(>ct  of  self- 
absorbed  suffering,  whicli  to  tlie  vrait  ing-woman's  kciMi  ob- 
servation had  been  gradually  intrnsil  \-ing  itseli'  during  tl'-'^' 
past  week.  Slio  liad  ta]i])e'.l  :f  'lie  .inor  witlioni  I'-ovj-,),^^  been 
summoned,  and  sIk-  IkkI  ve-utured  to  cuter  though  she  tied  heard 
no  voice  saying  ■■  Come  in  "' 


382  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

Mrs.  Transome  had  on  a  dark  warm  dressing-gown,  hang- 
ing in  thick  folds  about  her,  and  she  was  seated  before  a 
mirror  which  filled  a  panel  from  the  floor  to  the  ceiling.  The 
room  was  bright  with  the  light  of  the  fire  and  of  wax  candles. 
For  some  reason,  contrary  to  her  usual  jiractice,  ]\[rs.  Transome 
had  herself  unfastened  her  abundant  gray  hair,  which  rolled 
backward  in  a  pale  sunless  stream  over  Inn-  dark  dress.  She 
was  seated  before  the  mirror  apparently  looking  at  herself, 
her  brow  knit  in  one  deep  furrow,  and  her  jewelled  hands  laid 
one  above  the  other  on  her  knee.  I'robably  she  had  ceased  to 
see  the  reflection  in  the  mirror,  for  her  eyes  had  the  fixed 
wide-open  look  that  belongs  not  to  examination,  but  to  reverie. 
Motionless  in  that  way,  her  dear-cut  features  keeping  dis- 
tinct record  of  past  beauty,  she  looked  like  an  image  faded, 
dried,  and  bleached  by  uncounted  suns,  rather  than  a  breatli- 
ing  woman  who  had  numbered  the  years  as  they  passed,  and 
had  a  consciousness  within  her  which  was  the  slow  deposit  of 
those  ceaseless  rolling  years. 

Denner,  with  all  her  ingrained  and  systematic  reserve,  could 
not  help  showing  signs  that  she  was  startled,  wliun,  pceiang 
from  between  her  half-closed  eyelids,  she  saw  the  motionless 
image  in  the  mirror  opposite'  to  her  as  she  entered.  Her  giuitle 
opening  of  the  door  had  not  roused  hei'  mistress,  to  v^diom  the 
sensations  jtroduced  by  ])eiiner"s  presence  wein^  as  lilile  disturb- 
u\'j:  as  tho5-.e  of  a  faveiritc  eat.  lUit  the  sliglit  ciw,  ami  the  start 
refleeteil  in  tlie  glass,  ^\•ere  unusual  eiioiigli  tn  break  tlie  reverie: 
}klrs.  Transome  moved,  leaned  buek  in  her  eliair,  and  said  — 

'•So  you  're  come  at  last.  Dtumer  '.'  "' 

'■Yes.  mailam  ;  it  is  not  late.  I'm  sorry  3-ou  should  have 
undone  your  hair  ynurself."" 

'•I  undid  it  to  see  wliat  an  old  Ikcj,-  T  am.  These  fine  clothes 
you  put  on  nie.  Denner.  are  only  a  snuua  sliroud." 

'■I'ray  don't  talk  so.  madam.  Il  tliere's  anybody  doesn't 
think  it  ])leasant  to  look  at  you.  so  imudi  tlie  worse  for  tliem. 
For  my  pait.  1  'vf  seen  no  younLj,'  ones  til  to  liold  up  your 
train.  Look  at  yiur  likeness  down  'oelo\\' ;  and  tliougli  you're 
older  now.  what  sii^nnlies  ?  I  would  n't  lie  Letty  in  the  scid- 
lery  because  she  's  g(jt  red  (dieeks.      She  may  n't  know  she  "s  a 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  383 

poor  creature,  but  1  know  it,  and  tliat  's  enough  for  me  :  I 
know  what  sort  of  a  dowdy  draggletail  slie  '11  be  in  ten  years' 
time.  I  would  change  with  nobody,  nmdam.  And  if  troubles 
were  put  up  to  market,  I  'd  sooner  buy  old  than  new.  It  's 
something  to  have  seen  the  worst."' 

''■  A  woman  never  has  seen  the  worst  till  she  is  old,  Denner," 
said  Mrs.  Transome,  bitterl}-. 

'J'he  keen  Utile  waiLing-w(jnian  was  not  clear  as  to  the  cause 
of  her  iiiisti-css's  add(Ml  bitterni'ss  ;  but  she  rarely  brought  her- 
self to  ask  questions,  when  .Mrs.  Transome  did  not  authorize 
them  by  beginning  to  give  her  iiil'ormation.  J>anks  the  bailiff 
and  the  head-servant  had  nodded  and  winked  a  good  deal  over 
the  certainty  that  ?^Ir.  Harold  was  •■  nt)ne  so  fond"'  of  Jerm^'n, 
but  this  was  a  subject  on  which  Mrs.  Transome  had  nttver 
made  up  her  mind  to  speak,  and  Denner  knew  nothing  defi- 
nite. Again,  she  felt  (]uite  sure  that  there  was  some  impor- 
tant secret  connected  with  l''sLlier"s  iprestMice  in  the  house  ;  she 
suspected  that  the  close  Dominic  knew  the  secret,  and  was 
more  trusted  than  she  >vas.  in  spite  ot  luu'  i'oriy  years'  service: 
but  any  resentment  on  this  ground  would  liavt^  betMi  an  enter- 
tained i'e})i'oach  against  her  mistress,  inconsistent  with  Den- 
nei'"s  creed  and  cJiavaetei-.  She  incliniMl  to  the  belief  that 
EstluM'  was  the  immediate  cause  of  the  new  discontent. 

"  If  tliei'c  "s  anvtliing  woi'S(^  coming  to  you,  1  should  like  to 
know  what  it  is,  mailam."  r-lie  said,  ai'ti'i'  a  moment's  silciu-e, 
speakiuL^  always  in  tlie  -anie  low  (piiclc  way,  and  kee])in'^'  uj) 
la'r  (piiet  hihors.  '•  Wlieii  I  awake  at  coek-erow.  I  "d  s<ionrr 
liave  ont>  real  gidid'  on  my  mind  llian  invent  v  {'ahe.  It's  bettei- 
to  know  one  "s  vol)l)ed  than  to  thiidv  one  *s  going  to  be 
murdered."" 

'•  I  belii've  you  ai-e  the  (U'eature  in  tlie  world  that  loves  me 
best,  |)enner;  yet  vou  will  never  understand  what  I  sutfer. 
It's  of  no  ust>  telliii',;-  you.  Tliere  "s  no  folly  in  you,  and  no 
heartache.  You  are  made  of  iron,  "^'ou  have  never  had  any 
trouble."' 

'•  1  "ve  hai]  Some  of  vour  tronbh>.  madam." 

"  Ves.  you  t^ood  tlnm:.  I'mi!  a^  a  sick-nurs(\  that  never 
cau^lit   tlie   fever.      You  never  even   had  a  child,"' 


384  FELIX   HULT,    THE   RADICAL. 

*'l  can  feel  for  things  I  never  went  through.  1  used  to  be 
sorry  for  the  poor  French  Queen  when  1  was  young  ;  1  'd  have 
lain  cold  for  her  to  lie  warm.  I  know  people  have  feelings 
according  to  their  birth  and  stati(jn.  And  you  always  took 
things  to  heart,  nijdani,  beyond  anyl)ody  else.  But  1  hope 
thfrt^  "s  nothing  new,  tu  make  you  talk  of  the  worst.'' 

*'  Yes,  Denner,  there  is  —  there  is,'"  said  Mrs.  Transonie, 
speaking  in  a  low  tone  of  misery,  while  she  bent  for  her  head- 
dress to  be  pinned  on. 

*•  is  it  this  young  lady  ?  " 

"  ^Vhy,  what  do  you  tiiiuk  about  her,  Denner  ?  "  said  Mrs. 
Transoiue,  in  a  tone  of  inure  spirit,  rather  curious  to  hear  what 
the  old  wonuai  would  say. 

'•'1  don't  deny  she  "s  graceful,  and  she  h;is  a  pretty  smile 
and  very  good  nuuiner>  :  it  's  quite  unaccountable  by  what 
llanks  says  about  her  fatla-r.  I  know  nuthing  of  those  Treby 
townsfolk  myself,  liut  for  my  parr  I  'm  puzzled.  I'm  fond  of 
Mr.  ilarolil.  I  always  shall  be  madam.  I  was  at  his  bringing 
into  the  wtn-id.  and  nothing  but  his  doing  wrong  by  you  vrould 
turn  me  against  him.  P)ut  the  servants  all  say  he  's  in  love 
with  Miss  Lyon."" 

'•  I  vdsli  it  werp  true.  Denner,"  said  ^frs.  Transome,  ener. 
getically.  •■  I  wish  he  Avcre  in  lovr  witli  her,  so  that  she  could 
master  him.  and  make  him  do  what  she  pleased." 

'•  Then  it  is  not  trui'  —  whai  thry  say  '.'  '' 

'•'Not  tni''  thrit  sin-  v.-'ill  fvt-!'  mast'-)'  him.  Xo  woman  ever 
will,  lie  will  mak.'  ln-r  toiid  of  him.  and  afraid  of  him. 
'J'liat 's  i:]\>'  of  tlic  tiunu's  you  Lavtj  never  gone  thi'ouudn  Dcii- 
ncr.  A  ^\■om;ln"s  lovt;  is  always  freezing  into  fear.  She  wants 
♦  •vci-ythiii;^-.  >lie  is  secur*_'  of  nothing'.  Tins  girl  lias  a  fine 
spii'it — plenty  of  iir(>  and  "pride  and  wit.  i\Ien  like  such  cap- 
tives, a-  they  like  liorses  tliat  ciiamp  tlie  liit  a.nd  paw  the 
ground  :  lliey  I'eid  more  ti'iumph  in  their  mastery.  AVhat  is 
tlie  usf  ()['  a  wonian"s  Avill  ?  —  if  she  ti-;cs.  slic  docs  n't  get  it, 
and  --lie  cea.-^es  to  be  loved.  Goil  was  cruel  when  he  made 
women."' 

Dennci'  was  used  to  ^wrh  out,burst>  as  this.  Her  mistress's 
rh':t(n'ic  .Lud  teiiiper  belonged  to  her  superior  rank,  her  gran<l 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  885 

person,  and  her  piercing  black  eyes.  JNIrs.  Transonic  had  a 
sense  of  impiety  in  her  words  which  made  them  all  the  more 
tempting  to  her  impotent  anger.  The  waiting-woman  had 
none  of  tliat  awe  which  couki  he  turned  into  defiance  :  the 
Sacred  Grove  was  a  common  tliicket  to  her. 

"  It  may  irt  be  good-luck  to  b(^  a  woman/'  she  said.  "  But 
one  begins  with  it  ironi  a  baby  :  one  gets  used  to  it.  And  I 
should  n't  like  to  be  a  man  —  to  cough  so  loud,  and  stand 
straddling  about  on  a  wet  day,  and  be  so  wasteful  with  meat 
and  drink.  They're  a  coarse  lot,  I  think.  Then  I  needn't 
]nake  a  trouble  of  this  young  lady,  madam,"  she  added,  after 
a  moment's  pause. 

'•'  Xo,  Denuer.  I  like  her.  If  that  were  all  —  T  should  like 
Harold  to  marry  ln^r.  It  would  be  the  best  thing.  If  the 
truth  were  known  —  and  it  will  be  known  soon  — the  estate  is 
hers  by  law  —  such  law  as  it  is.  It's  a  strange  story:  she's 
a  J-'.ycliffe  really." 

Denuer  did  not  look  amazed,  but  went  on  fastening  her  mis- 
tress's dress,  as  she  said  — 

"Well,  madam,  1  was  sui'e  thei'c  was  something  wonderful 
at  the  bottom  of  it.  And  turning  tlie  old  lawsuits  and  every- 
tliing  else  over  in  ni}"  mind,  I  thouglit  th.e  law  might  have 
something  to  do  with  it.     Tlien  slie  is  a  born  lady  ?  " 

"Yes;   slie  li;is  good  blood  in  her  veins.'' 

'•  "We  tallced  tliat  ovei'  in  lie.'  housekeejier's  room  —  what  a 
hand  and  an  in>ti'p  sli-.'  has.  and  how  Iier  liead  is  set  on  her 
slieulders  —  aJiuobt  like  your  own.  mailaui.  lUit  her  ligiitisli 
ccmplexion  sjioils  lier,  to  my  rliinkiii^.  And  ])(.>minic  said 
Mr.  Harrjld  ne'ver  aibnirei]  tliat  soil  of  woman  hefrire.  Tlier.  's 
Tii'shiir.;-  iliat  smootli  fellow  eouM  u'l  Tell  you  if  he  Would:  he- 
knows  Ike  answers  to  I'iddles  ocfoi-e  tliey  're  made.  lIowe\'ei- 
he  knows  liow  to  hold  his  toii'_;iie  ;  I  "11  say  that  for  him.  And 
so  do  I.  madam." 

•'Yes.  yes  ;  you  will  not  talk  id'  it.  till  otlier  jieople  are  talk- 
ing of  it." 

'■  And  so.  if  Mr.  Harold  married  her,  it  would  save  all  fuss 
.uid  m:s(drKd':"' 

'•  \'.'s  —  al)Out  tlie  estate.'' 
■■•oi.    III  2u 


386  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

"  And  he  seems  inclined  ;  and  she  '11  not  refuse  him,  I  'h 
answer  for  it.  And  you  like  her,  madam.  There  's  everything 
to  set  yoiT:  mind  at  rest." 

Denner  was  putting  the  finishing-touch  to  ]\[rs.  Transome's 
dress  by  throwing  an  Indian  scaii'  over  her  shoulders,  and  so 
completing  tlie  contrast  between  the  mn.jpstic  lady  in  costume 
and  the  dishevniled  Hecuba-like  woman  whom  she  had  found 
half  an  hour  b-'-fore. 

'•  I  am  not  at  rest  1  "'  ^Irs.  Transome  said,  with  slow  distinct- 
ness, moving  from  tlie  miri'or  to  the  window,  where  tlie  ])lind 
v/as  not  drawn  down,  and  she  could  see  the  chill  white  land- 
scape and  thr>  far-off  unli'-ediug  stars. 

Denner,  more  distressed  by  h(;r  mir,tress's  suffering  than  she 
could  have  been  by  ;;ii}'th:ng  else,  to(jk  u\)  with  the  instinct  of 
affection  a  gol<l  vinaigrette  whicli  Mrs.  Transoun.'  ctften  liked 
to  carry  with  Ii'T,  and  going  u})  to  her  put  it  into  her  hand 
gently.  ]^drs.  Transome  grasped  the  little  woman's  hand  hard, 
and  field  it  so. 

'''  Denner,"  she  said,  in  a  low  tone,  "  if  I  could  choose  at 
tljis  moment,  I  would  choose  that  Harold  should  n(,'ver  have 
been  born." 

'■'Nay,  my  dear"  ('D'Uiner  liad  only  once  1)ef()re  in  her  life 
said  ''my  dear"  to  her  mistress),  '-'it  was  a  ha}>piii<'ss  to  you 
then." 

"  r  don't  Ix'lieve  T  b'lt  tlie  liapjiiiu'ss  then  as  I  feel  the 
miserv  now.  It  is  foolisli  bi  say  j)eopl(>  can't  i'cel  miu'li  when 
tliev  ai'e  gettin^c  ehb  Ni>t  jjleasure,  ])er]ia])S — little  (joiaes. 
Ibit  tliey  (•:!!!  fe.-l  tliey  ;ii-m  j'orsaken  ---why.  every  libre  in  me 
seinns  to  be  a  meaioi'v  ib:it  iiKikes  a  ])an'_r.  They  can  feel  ti.at 
all  the  hive  ;ii  'hejr  bx-r.-;  is  tiu'ned  in  h:itri'il  nv  eMnteni})t." 

"  Nol"  mi  !;;■.  nuahiiii,  nut  mine.  Let  whal:  w.-Jiihi  1)0.]  shouhi 
want  to  live  ;,,;■  voii r  sahf.  lor  fear  yiai  sliould  have  nobody  to 
do  for  you  :;-    I   \',-oul(l," 

"Ah,  ;iie:i.  \ou  are  a  ha])]iy  woman.  Denner;  yon  have 
loved  somebo'h'  i'oi'  toi'ty  years  who  is  old  and  weak  now,  and 
can't  do  without  you." 

The  souu'l  of  the  (linner-goncr  resounded  below,  and  a\vs. 
'I'j-ansome  let  the   failhiul  hand   fall  again. 


FELIX   HOLT.   THE  ilADICAL.  387 


CHAPTER   XL. 

She's  beautiful;  and  therefore  to  be  wooed: 
She  iri  a  vvoiuau ;  therefore  t(j  l)e  won. 

Henri)  Vi. 

If  Dennor  liad  had  a  suspicion  that  I'^stlicr's  })resonce  at 
Trausoiuo  Court  was  not  agrccabh.^  to  licr  mistress,  it  was  im- 
possible to  entcrtaiii  sucli  a  suspicion  with  regard  to  tlie  other 
members  of  the  family.  Jk'tweeu  her  and  little  Harry  there 
was  an  extraordinary  fascination.  This  creature,  with  the 
soft  broad  brown  cheeks,  low  forehead,  great  black  eyes,  tiny 
weU-delined  nose,  tierce  biting  tricks  towards  every  person  and 
thing  he  disliked,  and  insistance  on  eiriireiy  occupying  those 
In;  liked,  was  a  human  specinnui  such  as  Kslher  had  never  seen 
before,  and  she  seemed  to  be  e(pia!l\'  original  in  Harry's  ex- 
perience. At  lirst  sight  her  light  conipi>:'xion  and  her  blue 
gown,  [irobaldy  also  her  sunny  smiK>  and  her  hands  stretched 
out  towards  him.  senncil  to  make  a  sliow  fcir  him  as  (d'  a  m.'W 
sort  of  bird  :  he  thi'cw  himself  backwanl  against  his  '•' (lappa. *' 
as  he  called  old  Mr.  Transume.  and  ;darcd  at  tliis  new-comer 
with  the  gravity  of  a  wild  ainmal.  Ibit  slic  had  no  soontU"  ^at 
ilown  on  the  soi'a  in  tlic  liiirary  tliau  Ic  cliiiib'Ml  no  to  her.  and 
licgan  to  treat  liei' as  an  at  tractive'  oiiject  in  natui'al  histoi'v. 
snatclicd  up  her  cnrls  with  Ins  lircwn  list.  and.  ■liscoverin,- 
that  tlieri>  was  a  little  ear  nnder  ilcai!.  pinched  it  and  bl.-w 
into  it.  pulh'd  at  Iku'  ('(M'cnct  of  plaii-.  and  >ctnned  \n  discovei' 
Aviti:  satisfaction  that  it  did  no!  ua-ow  at  tlic  summit  of  her 
head,  but  conhl  br  di'a':,.;'-d  d.-'Aii  and  altogctlicr  undone. 
Tlien  tindmg  that  she  laMudcii.  tossed  him  back,  kissed.  :uai 
prtdended  to  bite  liim — in  fact,  was  an  animal  that  un'ler- 
stood  fun  —  he  rushed  off  and  made  Dominic  brin'^'  a  ^maill 
menagerie  of  white-mice,  sipiiia-i  !-.  and  bird<.  Avitli  Murn.  the 
bhu'k  spainel.  to  make  lier  ac(iiia  intance.  \\'lc  iia' o-ve-,'  Harry 
liked,   it   fuilowed   that   iMr.   '["I'Misome  must   iike  :    "  (jappa,'' 


B88  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

along  with  Ximrod  the  retriever,  was  part  of  the  menagerie, 
and  perliaps  endured  more  than  all  the  other  live  creatures  in 
the  way  of  being  tumbled  about.  Seeing  that  Esther  bore 
having  her  liair  pulled  down  quite  merrily,  and  that  she  was 
willing  to  be  harnessed  and  beaten,  the  old  man  began  to  con- 
fide to  her,  in  his  feeble,  smiling,  and  rather  jerking  fashion, 
Harry's  remarkable  feats :  how  he  had  one  day,  when  Gappa 
was  asleep,  unpinned  a  whole  drawerfid  of  beetles,  to  see  if 
they  would  tly  away  :  tlicn,  disgusted  with  tlieir  stupidity, 
was  about  to  throw  them  all  on  the  ground  and  stamp  on 
them,  when  Dominic  came  in  and  rescued  these  valuable  speci- 
mens ;  als(^,  how  he  had  subtly  watched  Mrs.  Transome  at  the 
cabinet  'where  she  kept  her  medicines,  and.  wlum  she  had  left 
it  for  a  little  while  without  locking  it,  had  goui'  b>  the  drawers 
and  scattered  half  tlie  contents  on  the  floor.  ]^)ut  what  old 
Mr.  Traus(une  thought  the  most  wonderfid  proof  of  an  almost 
preternatural  cleverness  was,  that  Harry  would  hardly  ever 
talk,  but  i)reierred  inaking  inarticulate  noises,  or  combining 
syllables   after  a  method  of  his  own. 

''He  can  talk  well  en.ougli  if  he  likes,''  said  Gappa.  evidently 
thinking  that  Hart}-,  like  the  monkeys,  had  deep  reasons  for 
his  reticence. 

'•  You  mind  him."  he  added,  nodding  at  Esther,  and  shaking 
with  low-toued  kuighter.  ••  ^'ou '11  hear:  he  knows  the  right 
names  of  things  well  enougii.  but  he  likes  to  make  his  own. 
I  Le '11   give'   you  one   all   to  yourseli'   before   long." 

And  when  Harry  seemed  to  have  made  u])  his  mind  dis- 
linetly  that  lOsther's  name  was  '•  Iuhi."  .Mr.  'J'ransoiu"  noiMed 
at  iiei'  with  triu:ii])hant  satisfaction,  and  then  tnid  Iku- in  a  low 
wldsper,  looking  round  cautiously  beloreli;;nd.  tbat  Harry 
would  never  call  Mrs.  'i'ransome  '•  Ciamma,"  l)tit  always 
'■^^ite." 

"•It's  wombrfnl  I''   said  he,  laughiiig  slyly. 

Tlie  oM  man  -eenunl  so  happy  now  in  the  new  world  created 
for  him  by  noniinie  and  Harry,  that  lie  would  ])(n"haj)s  have 
made  a  holoi'au.-t  oi  his  flies  and  iieelles  if  it  had  been  neces- 
sary in  ordei'  to  kee)i  this  living,  livelv  kindness  about  him. 
rie   no   longer   eoniined    liinisidf    to    tue    library,    Init   shuffled 


FELIX    HOl/r,    THE   RADICAL.  880 

along  from  room  to  room,  stayiiii;  and  looking  on  at  what  was 
going  forward  wlicrt'vin-  he  did  not  find  Mrs.  Transoiue  alone. 

To  Esther  the  sight  of  this  foeble-minded,  timid,  paralytic 
man,  who  had  long  abdicaterl  ail  mastery  over  the  things  that 
were  his,  was  something  })iteous.  Certainly  this  had  never 
been  part  of  the  furniture  she  had  imagined  for  the  delightful 
aristocratic  dwelling  in  iier  Uto[na  ;  and  the  sad  irony  of  such 
a  lot  impressed  her  the  more  because  in  her  father  she  was  ac 
customed  to  age  accompanied  with  mental  acumen  and  activity. 
Tier  thoughts  went  back  in  conjecture  ovei"  the  past  life  of  ]\lr. 
and  ]Mrs.  Transome,  a  cou})le  so  strangely  different  from  each 
other.  She  found  it  impossible  to  arrange  their  existence  in 
the  seclusion  of  this  iine  park  and  in  this  lofty  large-roomed 
house,  wliere  it  seemed  quite  ridiculous  to  be  anything  so 
small  as  a  human  being,  without  finding  it  rather  dull.  ]\Ir. 
Transome  had  always  had  liis  beetles,  but  Mrs.  Transome  —  ? 
It  was  not  easy  to  ccmceive  tliat  the  husband  and  wife  had 
ever  been  very  fond  of  each  otlier. 

Esther  felt  at  her  ea-e  ^vilh  .Mrs.  'I'ransom(>  :  she  was  grati- 
fied by  the  consciousness—  i'or  on  ihis  ])oiut  Esther  was  very 
quick  —  that  Mrs.  Ti'aiisome  admii-e<l  her,  and  looked  at  her 
with  satistif^l  oyo:-,.  Ihit  wlieii  they  vrere  togetlier  in  the  e;irly 
days  of  her  stay,  tlie  conversation  turned  chiefly  on  wliat  liap- 
peiied  in  ]\li's.  Transo]iie"s  ynutji  —  what  she  wore  when  she 
was  ])resented  at  (,'oui't  —  wlio  were  the  most  distinguished 
and  beautiful  wi.imeii  at  tliat  tine-  the  teia'ible  excitement  ;if 
i  he  Freneh  Mevolui  imi -— 1  he  enii'^^-rants  she  had  knowm  and 
the  history  of  various  titled  members  of  tlie  Lingon  family. 
.\nd  Estlier.  from  native  didie-!c\".  did.  not  lead  to  more  i-ecent 
toiiics  of  a  personal  kind.  Sln>  wa-;  eopiously  instructed  rliat 
the  Lingon  family  v.'as  better  i]i:in  that  ev(m  of  the  (dder  'I'ran 
somes,  and  was  ])rivilei:ed  v/illi  an  explanai  ion  of  the  vai-ioi;-- 
quarterinu's.  whi(di  proveil  fbi*-  the  Ein-'ou  l)lood  had  Ixm  n 
continually  enri(die(L  I'ooi-  Mi's.  Transome.  with  her  secri  t 
bitterness  and  dread,  still  found  a  tla.vor  in  this  sort   of   jnadr; 

none   the   less   b.i'cause  certain  d is  id"   her  own  life   liad    been 

in    fatal    inconsistency    with   it".      l-eshles,   gemvih'iries   entiu'ed 
into   her  stock   of   ideas,  am!    hi'  talk   on  such  suhjccts  was  as 


390  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

necessary  as  the  notes  of  the  linnet  or  the  blackbird.  She  had 
no  ultimate  analysis  of  tilings  that  went  beyond  blood  and 
family  —  the  Herons  of  Fenshoi'e  or  the  Badgers  of  Hillbury. 
She  had  never  seen  behind  the  canvas  with  which  her  life  was 
hung.  In  the  dim  background  there  was  the  burning  mount 
and  the  tables  of  the  law  ;  in  the  foreground  there  was  Lady 
Debarry  privately  gossijjing  about  her,  and  Lady  Wyvern 
finally  deciding  not  to  send  her  invitations  to  dinner.  Unlike 
that  Semiramis  who  nuide  laws  to  suit  her  practical  license, 
she  lived,  })oor  soul,  in  the  midst  of  desecrated  sanctities,  and 
of  honors  that  looked  tarnished  in  the  light  of  monotonous  and 
weary  suns.  Glimpses  of  the  Liugou  heraldry  in  their  fresh- 
ness were  interesting  to  Esther ;  but  it  occun'ed  to  Iter  that 
when  she  had  known  about  them  a  good  while  they  would 
cease  to  be  succulent  themes  of  converse  or  meditation,  and 
Mrs.  Transonic,  having  km)\vn  them  all  along,  might  have  felt 
a  vacuum  in  spite  of  them. 

Xevertheless  it  was  entertaining  at  present  to  be  seated  on 
soft  cushions  with  her  netting  liefore  her,  while  ]\Irs.  Tran- 
some  went  on  with  lier  embroidery,  and  told  in  that  (>asy 
phrase,  and  with  that  refined  high-bred  tone  and  accent  which 
she  possessed  in  perfection,  family  stories  tluit  to  I'.stlier  were 
like  so  many  novelettes :  wliat  diamonds  w^ere  in  the  ]Carl"s 
family,  own  cousins  to  Mrs.  Transoiuc  :  how  ])oor  l^ady  Sara's 
hnsbinid  went  off  into  jealons  madni'ss  only  a  month  alter 
tlii'ir  niai-riage,  and  dras^^ged  that  sweet  blue-eyed  thing  by  tlie 
hair:  and  how  the  bi'illiant  I'^iimy,  having  married  a  country 
]iarsoii.  became  so  nig^'ardly  that  she  liad  gone  al)ont  almost 
begi:,dng  for  fresh  egns  from  tin;  farniei's'  wives,  though  she 
had  (hme  very  well  with  lu-r  six  sons,  as  lliei'e  was  a  bislu)]! 
and  no  end  of  interest  in  the  iamily,  and  two  ol'  them  got  a}>- 
])ointments  in  India. 

At  ])resent  Mrs.  Transom(>  did  not  tou(di  at  all  on  lier  own 
time  of  ))rivati(jn.  or  lier  (roubles  with  her  eldest  son,  or  on 
anything  that  lay  verv  close  to  her  heart.  She  conversed 
with  Estlier,  and  aet<'d  tht^  ])ai't  of  hostess  as  sin-  ]ierformed 
li''r  toilet  and  went  on  with  her  embi-oiderv :  these  things 
wpie  to  be  done  whetlicr  one  were  liappy  or  miserable.     Even 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  391 

the  patriarch  Job,  if  he  had  been  a  gentleman  of  ^he  modern 
West,  would  have  avoided  picturesque  disorder  and  poetical 
laments  ;  and  the  friends  who  called  on  him,  though  not  less 
disposed  than  Bildad  the  Shuhite  to  hint  that  their  unfortu- 
nate friend  Avas  in  the  wrong,  would  have  sat  on  chairs  and 
held  their  hats  in  their  hands.  'l"he  harder  prol)lems  of  our 
life  have  changed  less  than  our  manners  ;  we  wrestle  with  the 
old  sorrows,  but  more  decorously.  Esther's  inexperience  pre- 
vented her  from  divining  much  about  this  fine  gray-haired 
w(nnan,  whom  she  could  not  help  ])erceiving  to  stand  apart 
from  the  family  group,  as  if  there  were  some  cause  of  isolation 
for  her  both  within  and  without.  To  her  young  heart  there 
was  a  peculiar  interest  in  ]\lrs.  Transome.  An  elderly  woman, 
whose  beauty,  position,  and  grai'eful  kindness  towards  herself, 
made  deference  to  her  s})ont:ii icons,  was  a  new  figure  in  Esther's 
experience.  Her  f^uick  iight  movement  was  always  read}'  to 
antici})ate  what  ]Mrs.  Transonic  wanted;  her  bright  apprehen- 
sion and  silvery  speech  were  always  ready  to  ca]i  ^NFrs.  'Fran- 
some's  narratives  or  instructions  even  about  doses  and  liniments, 
with  Some  lively  comnu'iitary.  Slie  must  have  behaved  charm- 
inglv  ;  for  one  ilay  wlum  slie  had  tri]/ped  across  the  room  to 
])ut  the  si'ri'i'U  just  in  the,  right  place.  .Mrs.  ^rransome  said, 
taking  lirr  hand.  '"My  dear,  you  inake  me  wish  1  had  a 
daughtm'  I  "' 

Tliat  was  pleasant  :  cand  so  it  was  to  he  dcekeil  l>y  ]\{rs. 
'i'l'aiisome's  own  liand^  in  a  set  of  tui'(iii()i>"  <iniaiuciils.  wlii'-h 
became  her  wonderiully.  worn  with  a  wLi'c  ('aslirn'MT'  dress, 
which  was  also  insisted  on.  Ivsthi-r  licv.  i-  n  llcricd  llia.t  th(>re 
was  a  (hniblc  ietentiidi  inllu'sc  in'i'tty  wa\s  towards  licr;  ^\\\]l 
young  generosity,  slie  wa>  raili-T  prei)ci'U]ii,'d  by  ihe  desii'c  to 
prove  that  she  lierself  entei  1:i  ined  no  low  lrium}ili  in  the  fact 
that  she  had  riglit.s  ])!'ejudiei,il  to  this  family  whose  lile  slie 
was  learning-.  And  besiiies.  tlnitii  .:li  all  Mi-s.  Ti'aiisonie's  ])er- 
fect  manners  tluu'e  piiu'eed  sdine  anili'tinable  indieatioiis  of  a 
hidden  anxiety  niurli  iIi'i'Imt  tli;in  anything  slu'  ceulii  tefl 
about  this  alfair  (d'  the  estat''  —  to  whiidi  .-,lie  olten  alluded 
slightly  as  a  I'eason  for  inroria'.ii'-:  Ksther  of  soinetliing.  It 
was  inqiossible  to  mistake  liei   '.-i'  a  liajijiy  woman  ;   and  y(jung 


392  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

speculation  is  always  stirred  by  disconteut  for  which  there  is 
no  obvious  cause.  When  we  are  older,  we  take  the  uneasy  eyes 
and  the  bitter  lips  more  as  a  matter  of  course. 

But  Harold  Transome  was  more  communicative  about  recent 
years  than  his  mother  was.  He  thought  it  well  that  Estlier 
should  know  how  the  fortune  of  his  family  had  been  drained  by 
law  expenses,  owing  to  suits  mistakenly  urged  by  her  family ;  he 
:;pokp  of  his  mother's  lonely  life  and  pinched  ch'cumstances,  of 
her  lack  of  comfort  iu  her  (■lde^^t  seu,  and  ol'  the  habit  she  had 
consequently  acquired  of  looking  at  the  gloom}'  side  of  things. 
He  hinted  that  she  had  been  accustomed  to  dictace,  and  that, 
as  he  had  left  her  when  he  was  a  boy,  she  had  perha])S  in- 
dulged the  dream  that  he  would  come  back  a  boy.  She  was 
still  sore  on  the  jioint  of  his  [iolitics.  These  things  couhl  not 
be  helped,  but  so  far  as  he  could,  he  wished  to  make  the  rest 
of  her  life  as  <!heerful  as  possible. 

Esther  listened  eagerly,  and  took  these  things  to  heart. 
The  claim  to  an  inheritance,  the  sudden  discovery  of  a  right 
to  a  fortunt^  held  by  others,  was  acquiring  a  very  distinct  and 
unexpected  meaning  for  her.  Every  day  she  was  getting  more 
clearly  into  lier  imagination  what  it  would  be  to  al)andon  lier 
own  })ast.  and  what  she  would  enter  into  in  cxcliango  fur  it ; 
what  it  would  be  to  disturb  a  long  ]inssi'ssion,  and  how  ditH- 
eult  it  was  to  fix  ;t  ])oini  ;it  which  the  distui'bance  might  begin, 
so  us  to  be  r'ontem])uited  ^,\■ltllout  pain. 

Harold  Ti'aiisonie's  thoughts  turned  on  the  sanu'  sul)ject. 
but  aeroiiipmiied  l)y  a  dilfereiit  state  of  i'eeling  and  with  more 
delinii^-  I'^'.-ointioiis.  lit;  saw  a  mode  of  I'eeonciliiig  all  diiii- 
eulties.  wliich  looked  i)leasant(U'  to  liim  tlie  lonu'i'r  lie,  hooked 
at  Esthei'.  When  she  had  been  hardly  a  woih  in  the  house, 
]u'.  had  iiiaiif  ir[)  Ids  nnnd  to  marry  Ikm' ;  and  it  had  never  en- 
tered into  thai,  mind  thai  rlif  ileci.-^ioii  dio  n!)t  I'est  eiil  irely  withi 
Ills  inclination.  Itwasnoi  that  le-  t  hiai-lit.  sii'.;-hlly  of  blsther's 
ileinands:  lie  sa'v  ilait  slu'  would  ijoaii'c  coii^idrralde  attrac 
tions  1o  jileasi'  her.  and  that  tliert'  wei'f  diiii(adlies  tu  be  (ivei'- 
eome.      She  was  ch'aj'ly  ;i  girl  wIkj   'uust  i)e    wooed  :     but   Ha:- 

(ild  did  not  di'sjiaii' '  li'   i  jj'fS'ait  iii'r  '  le ;|uisili'  a1 !  I'.a'tioiis.  and. 

tlie  dilhunilties  g:i\'o  more  :irl.  ;■'   :,  ;o  i.ia'  wooing  ihaii    he  eouid 


FELIX   lIOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  393 

hav.'  buiieved.  When  he  had  said  that  he  would  not  marry 
an  Englishwoman,  he  had  always  made  a  mental  reservation 
in  i'avor  of  peculiar  circumstances  ;  and  now  the  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances were  come.  To  be  deeply  in  love  was  a  catastrophe 
not  likely  to  happen  to  him;  but  he  was  readily  amorous.  No 
^voman  could  make  him  miserable,  but  he  was  sensitive  to  the 
presence  of  women,  and  was  kind  to  them  ;  not  Avith  grimaces, 
like  a  man  of  mere  gallantry,  but  beamingly,  easily,  like  a  man 
of  genuine  good-nature.  And  each  day  that  h-,^  was  near 
Esther,  the  solution  of  all  dilHculties  by  marriage  became  a 
more  jdeasing  2)rospect :  though  he  had  to  confess  to  himself 
that  the  difficulties  did  not  diminish  on  a  nearer  view, 
in  spite  of  the  flattering  sense  that  she  brightened  at  his 
a})proach. 

Harold  was  not  one  to  fail  in  a  purpose  for  want  of  assi 
duity.  After  an  hour  or  two  devoted  to  business  in  the  morn- 
ing, he  went  to  look  for  Esther,  and  if  he  did  not  find  her  at 
i)lay  with  Ilai'ry  and  o\A  \rr.  Transome,  or  chatting  witli  his 
mother,  he  went  into  the  drawing-room,  where  she  was  usually 
eitlier  seated  with  a  book  on  her  knee  and  "  making  a  bed  for 
her  clioek  ■'  with  one  little  hand,  v.diile  she  looked  out  of  the 
window,  or  else  slnmliiig  in  front  of  one  of  the  frdldeiigth 
family  portraits  witli  an  air  ()f  rumination.  Esther  found  it 
impossible  to  read  in  these  days;  lier  lift^  was  a  book  whiidi 
slie  seemed  herself  to  ho  con -tructing  —  trying  to  make  diar- 
acter  clear  befor*^  her.  and  looking  into  tlie  ways  of  destiny. 

Tlic  active  Harold  liad  almost  alwavs  something  defniite  to 
uvopose  by  v.'ay  of  lilling  'lie  time;  ii'  it  were  iin(\  slie  must 
walk  out  witli  hill!  and  sec  the  gr  inn;l  ■  :  and  when  Ihe  sntiw 
nielte'd  and  it  was  no  longer  slipii:  ry.  slie  must  get  on  ho-.'se- 
back  a.nd  learn  to  ride.  Tf  they  slaye-d  inddors.  she  nnisl 
learn  to  play  at  billiards,  oi'  she  must  go  o\-er  the  house  ario 
see  the  ])ietui'es  he  lia.il  h.ad  liun-,:'  anew,  or  the  eostumes  ln' 
had  brought  ti'om  the  I'last.  or  cdni"  into  liis  study  and  look  a,t 
the  maj)  of  the  estate,  and  ]\'':iv  v.  hat  —  if  it  had  i'e]ii;,ineil  in 
ids  fannly  —  he  had  inte-niled  lo  do  in  ever}'  cornei'  of  it  in 
onk  r  to  make  tlie  most  of  iir^  eao.ibilities. 

Aljwut  a  certain  time  in  the  ai'  aaiiic;   E-^thei'  h.al   iearm^l  '".o 


394  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

expect  him.  Let  every  wooer  make  /limsclf  strongly  expected; 
he  may  succeetl  by  dint  of  being  ab.s(mt,  but  hardly  in  the  first 
instance.  One  morning  Harold  found  her  in  the  drawing- 
room,  leaning  against  a  console-table,  and  looking  at  the 
full-length  portrait  of  a  certain  Lady  Betty  Transonic,  who 
had  lived  a  century  and  a  half  before,  and  had  the  usual 
charm  of  ladies  in  Sir  Peter  Lely's  style. 

"Don't  move,  })ray,"  he  said  on  entering;  ''you  look  as  ii 
you  were  standing  for  your  own  portrait." 

"I  take  that  as  an  insinuation,"  said  Esther,  laughing,  and 
moving  towards  her  seat  on  an  ottoman  near  the  fire,  ''  for  I 
notice  almost  all  th(!  })ortraits  are  in  a  conscious,  affected  atti- 
tude. That  fair  Lady  Eelty  looks  as  if  she  had  been  drilled 
into  that  posture,  and  had  not  will  enough  of  her  own  ever  to 
move  again  unless  she  had  a  little  push  given  to  her." 

"She  In'ightfMis  up  that  panel  Avell  with  hei-  long  satin  skirt," 
said  Harold,  as  he  followed  Esther,  "but  alive  1  dare  say  sla^ 
would  have  Ijeen  less  cheerful  company." 

"One  would  certainly  think  that  she  had  just  been  unpacked 
from  silver  paper.  Ali,  how  chivalrcjiis  yon  ar(' I "'  said  lea- 
ther, as  Harold,  kneeling  on  one  knee,  held  her  silken  nctting- 
stirru})  for  lier  to  j)ut  licr  foot  thi-oiigh.  She  had  oft(  ii  laiicicd 
pleasaut  scenes  in  whi(;h  such  homage  was  rendei'cd  to  her, 
and  the  h<^mage  was  not  disagi'ecable  now  it  was  I'l^ally  come  ; 
])iit,  sti'angcly  enough,  a  litth;  dai'l  ing  seiisati(jn  at  that  mo- 
iiiciit  was  ai'coni])anicd  ])y  tlie  vivid  reiiicinbrance  of  some  oik; 
wlio  liad  never  paid  the  least  attention  to  hei-  foot.  ''J'here 
h;i(I  been  a  slight  blush,  sueh  as  ol'ten  cauie  and  went  rapidly, 
atid  she  was  silent  a.  iiiomei;t.  Harold  nalurally  believed  that 
it  was  he  himself  wlio  was  lilling  the  licld  of  vision.  He 
would  have  likfid  to  [)lae<'  liiniselF  on  the  ottoman  near  Es- 
ther, and  behavci  very  much  niore  like  a  lover;  but  he  took 
a  chair  opj)osite,  to  hei'  a,t  a  cii'cumspeet  dislance.  He  dared 
not  do  olhei'wise.  Along  with  I']sthei'"s  ])layi'ul  charm  slu; 
conveye(l  an  iiii|ii'essioii  of  ])ei-s()iial  jiridc;  and  high  S])irit 
which  warned  Hai^jld's  ataiteiii'ss  that  in  tlie  delicacy  of 
their  jn'i^sent  position  he  might  easily  make  a  i'alse  niove  and 
offend  her.     A  woman  was  likely  to  be  credulous  about  adora- 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RAT31CAL.  395 

tion,  and  to  find  no  difficulty  in  referring  it  to  her  intrinsic 
attractions ;  but  Esther  was  too  dangerously  quick  and  critica. 
not  to  discern  the  least  awkwardness  that  looked  like  offering 
her  marriage  as  a  convenient  coniijroniise  for  himself.  Be- 
forehand, he  might  have  said  that  such  characteristics  as  hers 
were  not  lovable  in  a  woman ;  but,  as  it  was,  he  found  that 
the  hope  of  pleasing  her  had  a  pi(|uancy  quite  new  to  him. 

*•  I  wonder,"'  said  Esther,  breaking  her  silence  in  her  usual 
light  silvery  tones  —  '•  I  wonder  whether  the  woman  who 
looked  in  that  way  ever  felt  any  troubles.  I  see  there,  are 
two  old  ones  up-stairs  in  the  billiard-room  who  have  only  got 
fat ;  the  expression  of  their  faces  is  just  of  the  same  sort." 

"  A  woman  ought  never  to  have  any  trouble.  There  should 
always  be  a  man  to  guard  her  froni  it."  (Harold  Transome 
was  masculine  and  fallible ;  he  had  incautiously  sat  down  this 
morning  to  pay  his  addresses  by  talk  about  nothing  in  par- 
ticular ;  and,  clever  experienced  man  as  he  was,  he  fell  into 
nonsense.) 

•^'But  sup])ose  the  man  himself  got  into  trouble — you  would 
wish  her  to  mind  about  that.  Or  su})pose,"  added  Esther, 
suddenly  looking  up  merrily  at  Harold,  "the  man  himself 
was  troublesome  ?  " 

"Oh,  you  uuist  not  strain  probabilities  in  tliat  way.  The 
generality  of  men  are  perfect.     Take  me,  for  exauqtle.'" 

"You  are  a  perfect  judge  of  sauces,"  said  l']stlu'r,  who  liad 
her  trium})hs  in  letting  llai'old  know  that  slu-  was  capable  of 
taking  notes. 

"That  is  perfection  number  one.     Bray  go  on." 

"Oh,  the  catalogue  is  too  h)ng  — 1  should  b(^  tired  before 
I  got  to  your  nuignihcent  ruby  ring  and  your  gloves  always 
of  the  right  color." 

"  If  you  would  let  me  tell  you  your  perfections,  I  should 
not  be  tired." 

"  That  is  not  complimeiiiuvy  ;  it  means  that  the  list  is 
short." 

"]S"o;  it  means  that  the  list  is  jdeasant  to  dwell  upon." 

'•'Pray  don't  begin,"  said  I'^ihcr.  with  h(>r  pn>tty  toss  of 
tlic   head;   "it  would  be  duiiijfious  to  our  !j(,od  iiuderstundini;, 


396  FELIX   PIOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

The  person  I  liked  best  in  the  world  was  one  who  did  nothing 
but  scold  me  and  tell  me  of  n)y  faults." 

When  Esther  began  to  speak,  she  meant  to  do  no  more 
than  make  a  remote  unintelligible  allusion,  feeling,  it  must  be 
owned,  a  naughty  will  to  flirt  and  be  sauey,  and  thwart  Har- 
old's attempts  to  be  felicitous  in  compliment.  But  she  had 
no  sooner  uttered  the  words  than  tht-y  seemed  to  her  like  a 
confession.  A.  deep  flush  spread  itself  over  her  face  and  neck, 
and  the  sens*:-  that  she  was  blushing  went  on  deepening  her 
color.  Harold  felt  himself  unpleasantly  illuminated  as  to  a 
possibility  that  had  never  yet  occurred  to  him.  His  surprise 
made  an  uncomfortable  pause,  in  which  Esther  had  time  to 
feel  much  vexation. 

"You  speak  in  the  past  tense,"  said  Harold,  at  last;  •'•'yet 
I  am  rather  envious  of  that  person.  I  shall  never  be  able  to 
win  your  regard  in  the  same  way.  Is  it  any  one  at  Treby  ? 
Because  in  that  case  I  can  incjuire  about  your  faults." 

"(Jh,  you  know  I  have  always  lived  among  grave  people," 
said  Estlier,  more  able  to  rciMA-er  hfn'self  now  she  was  S})oken 
to.  "  Before  T  came  hojin-  to  l^e  with  my  father  I  was  noth- 
ing but  a  scho(jl-girl  first,  and  then  a  tfiacher  in  diflerf.mt  stages 
of  growth.  People  in  those  circumstances  are  not  usually 
flattered.  But  there  are  varieties  in  fault-finding.  At  our 
Taris  school  thi^  master  I  liked  best  was  an  old  man  who 
st(jrmed  at  me  terribly  when  I  read  Bacine,  but  yet  showed 
tluif  he  was  ])roud  of  mc" 

Esther  was  gf-tting  quite  cool  again.  But  Hai'old  was  not 
i-ntirriy  satisfied  ;  if  there  was  any  obstacle  in  his  way,  he 
wished  to  know  exactly  what  it  was. 

"Tliat  me>st  have  Ijeen  a  wretched  life  for  you  at  Treby," 
he   sai<l,  —  '-a  person   of  your   accomplishnients." 

"  I  u.-^er]  if,  hi-  dre.'uirully  discontented."  said  Esther,  much 
occu])ied  v.ilb  inislalces  she  had  ni;ide  in  lier  netting.  "  liut  I 
was  becoiiiiii'-!;  li-,-  .-o.  f  \invv.  had  time  to  get  rather  wise, 
yiiu  know  j   I    rim  tW(.-;uio-twenty,"" 

'•Yes,"  srtid  Il^n-oid.  rising  and  walking  a  few  paces  Ijack- 
wards  and  forwards,  '-yiiu  ure  pas.t  \  cnir  majorit}'  :  yuu  aro 
fcnipress   of  your  uuii    ieu-tunes  —  and   more  besides." 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  397 

"  Dear  me,"  said  Esther,  letting  her  work  fall,  and  leanin;^ 
back  against  the  cushions  ;  '•  1  don't  think  I  know  very  well 
what  to  do  with  my  empire." 

'■  Well,"  said  Harold,  pausing  in  front  of  her,  leaning  one 
arm  on  the  mantel-piece,  and  speaking  very  gravely,  "  1  hope 
that  in  any  case,  since  you  appi-ar  to  have  no  near  relative 
who  \indfrstands  affairs,  you  will  confide  in  me,  and  trust  me 
with  all  your  intentions  as  if  I  had  no  other  personal  concern 
in  the  matter  than  a  regard  for  you.  I  hope  you  believe  me 
capable  of  acting  as  the  guardian  of  your  interest,  even  where 
it  turns  out  to  be  inevitably  op])oscd  to  my  ov/n." 

•'•  I  am  sure  you  have  given  nv.  reason  to  believe  it,"  said 
]']sther,  with  seriousness,  putting  out  her  hand  to  Harold. 
She  had  not  been  left  in  iguurance  that  he  had  had  opportu- 
nities twice  offered  of  stilling  her  claiius. 

Harold  raised  the  hand  to  his  lips,  but  dared  not  retain  it 
mure  than  an  instant.  Still  the  sweet  reliance  in  Esther's 
manner  made  an  irresistible  temptation  to  him.  After  stand- 
ing still  a  moment  or  two,  while  she  bent  over  hei'  woi-k,  he 
glided  to  the  ottoman  and  seated  himself  chjse  by  her,  looking 
at  her  l)usy  IkukIs. 

'•' T  see  you  have  made  mistakes  in  }'our  work,"  he  said, 
bending  still  nearer,  for  he  saw  tlia.t  she  was  conscious,  yet 
not  angry. 

'•  Nonsense  !  you  know  nothing  aboul;  it,"  said  Esther, 
laughing,  and  eiaisliing  up  llie  .soft  silk  under  her  palms, 
"' Tliuse  blunders  have  a   de-iL'-n   in   them." 

She  lookt'd  iMiind.  a.nd  sav.-  a  handsoun'  i'-dct^  very  r.ear  lier 
Harold  was  look in-^-.  as  he  fell,  thoroughly  enaniorcvl  of  this 
bi'ight  woman.  \vho  was  not  a^  adl  to  his  i!i\  ('(.la'iived  tasie. 
l'erha[is  a  toueh  ol'  hype'thet  ir  ie;^lous^■  no\'.'  ladprd  to  hei_L;litei' 
the  effect.  V.iit  he  uia>Lei'ed  all  indi-ia'et  ion.  and  o\i\v  looked 
at  her  as  he  saiil  — 

•'•  T  am  wondering  whether  yon  have  an.y  dtiep  wishes  and 
secrets  that   1   ean't  ".U'ss/" 

•■  I'ray  don't  -^peak  of  n:y  v;i-di"-."  said  Plsthei'.  (luite  over- 
nuistered  by  this  new  and  appar.  ;irly  invoiuntary  nianitesta- 
tiou   in    Harold.   •'  I    could    nd    iHi>sii)i\-   tell   \  ou  one   at   tiiis 


o'dS  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

moment  —  I  think  I  shall  never  find  them  out  again.     Oh 

yes,"  she  said,  abruptly,  struggling  to  relieve  herself  from  the 
oppression  of  unintelligible  feelings  —  ''I  do  know  one  wish 
distinctly.  I  want  to  go  and  see  my  father.  He  writes  me 
word  that  all  is  well  with  him,  but  still  I  want  to  see  him." 

"  You  shall  be  driven  there  when  you  like." 

"  May  I  go  now  —  I  mean  as  soon  as  it  is  convenient  ?  " 
said  Esther,  rising. 

"I  will  give  the  order  immediately,  if  you  wish  it,"  said 
Harold,  understanding  that  the  audience  was  broken  up. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

He  rates  me  as  tlte  niercliant  elites  tlio  warep- 
lie  ^^■ili  nut  ]mrcliaso  —  "  ijuality  ii(.)t  high  I  — 
'Twill  lose  its  color  ojioiied  to  the  sun, 
Has  DO  an)ina,  aiul,  in  fine,  is  naught  — 
I  barter  not  for  such  coninK)Jities  — 
There  is  no  ratio  betwixt  sand  and  gems." 
T  is  wirkcil  jiidL;Mn(Mit !  for  the  soul  can  <XTOW, 
As  ein'iryos,  tliat  liv(»  and  nu>\(>  bat  blindly, 
Burst  from  the  dark,  eiiioruc  ri\L;-ciiei-ate, 
And  lead  a  life  of  vision  and  of  ciioice. 

EsTHKR  did  not  take  tlu^  carriage  into  iNFalthnuRe  Lane,  but 
left  it  to  wait  for  her  (jutside  tlie  town;  and  A\li('n  slie  entered 
the  lioiisi-!  slu^  put  lior  finger  on  her  lip  to  T^yddy  and  ran 
lightly  u]i-st;iir,s.  Sh(>  wislicd  to  surjn-ise  ]\rv  i'atlier  by  this 
visit,  ;iii(i  she  sueceeded.  'Idie  little  niiiiislcr  was  just  then 
almost  snrround(?d  l)y  a.  wiill  of  books,  witli  merely  liis  h(>ad 
pee[iing  above  tliein,  being  nnieh  eniltarvassed  to  find  a  substi- 
tute foi-  tables  and  desks  on  whioh  to  ari'ange  the  volumes  lie 
ke})t  0})en  for  refereiK.'e.  He  was  absi)r])ed  in  mast(M'ing  all 
those  painstaknig  inlerpretaLious  oi'  ihe  Kook  of  Daniel,  wliich 
are  by  this  time  well  gone  to  liie  liml)o  of  mistaken  criti- 
cism ;  and  Esther,  as   she  opened  the   door  softly,  heard  him 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  399 

rehearsing  aloud  a  passage  in  wliicli  he  declared,  with  some 
parenthetic  })rovisos,  that  he  conceived  not  how  a  perverse 
ingenuity  could  blunt  the  edge  of  prophetic  explicitness, 
or  how  an  open  mind  could  fail  to  see  in  the  chronology 
of  "the  little  horn"  the  resplendent  lamp  of  an  inspired 
symbol  searching  out  the  germinal  growth  of  an  antichristian 
power. 

''  You  will  not  like  me  to  interrupt  you,  father  ? "  said 
Esther,  slyl}'. 

"  All,  my  beloved  child  I  "  he  exclaimed,  upsetting  a  pile  of 
books,  and  thus  uninti'utionally  making  a  convenient  breach 
in  las  wall,  through  which  Esther  could  get  \\\)  to  him  ;ind 
kiss  him.  '' Thy  ap})earing  is  ;;s  a  joy  despaired  of.  I  had 
thought  of  thee  as  the  bliu(h'!l  tliink  of  the  daylight  —  which 
indeed  is  a  thing  to  rejoice  in,  like  all  other  good,  though  we 
see  it  not  nigh." 

'•Are  you  sure  you  have  been  as  well  and  comfortable  as 
you  said  you  were  in  your  letters  ?  '"'  said  I'sther,  seati)ig  her- 
self close  in  front  of  her  father,  and  laying  her  hand  on  his 
shoulder. 

'•'  I  wrote  truly,  my  dear,  according  to  my  knowledge  at  the 
time.  I>ut  to  an  old  memor}-  like  mine  the  present  days  are 
but  as  a  litlle  water  jioured  on  the  deep.  It  s(>ems  now  that 
all  lias  beiMi  as  usual.  exee])t  my  studies,  whidi  have  gone 
sonu^wlia.t  (airidusly  into  ])rop]ie(ie  history.  Ibit  I  fear  you 
will  rebuke  me  for  my  negligent  apjiarel,"  said  the  little  man, 
i'eeliiig  in  iVnut  of  Esther's  brightness  like  a  bat  ovtu'taken  by 
the  morning. 

'•  That  is  Lyddy's  fault,  wlio  sits  crying  over  her  want  of 
Christian  assurane(>  instead  of  biaishin'-r  yi'ir  ehithes  and  ]nit- 
ting  ciut  your  clean  ci'avat.  Sh(>  isal\''ays  saying  her  i'i.:ht- 
eousness  is  filthy  rags,  and  really  I  d.in't  think  that  is  a  vei'v 
strong  expression  for  it.  I  "m  sure  it  is  dusty  clothes  aiu' 
furniture." 

•'  Xay.  my  dear,  yinir  playfulness  glances  too  severely  on 
our  faithful  Lyddy.  I)oulif:It-;s  1  am  myself  deficient,  in  that 
I  do  niit  aitl  her  infirm  meniorv  by  ailmonition.  But  now  tell 
me  augut   that  ycu  huve  left  uutold  about   yourself.     Your 


400  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

heart  has  gone  out  somewhat  towards  this  family — the  old 
man  and  the  child,  whom  I  had  not  reckoned  of  ?  " 

"  Yes,  father.  It  is  more  and  more  difficult  to  me  to  see 
how  I  can  make  up  my  mind  to  disturb  these  people  at  all." 

"  Something  should  doubtless  be  devised  to  lighten  the  loss 
and  the  change  to  the  aged  father  and  mother.  I  would  have 
3"ou  in  any  case  seek  to  temper  a  vicissitude,  which  is  never- 
theless a  providential  arrangement  not  to  be  wholly  set  aside." 

''Do  you  think,  father  —  do  you  feel  assured  tliat  a  case  of 
inheritance  like  this  of  mine  is  a  sort  of  providential  arrange- 
ment that  makes  a  command  ?  " 

'•'I  have  so  held  it,"  said  ]Mr.  Lyon,  solemnh';  "in  all  my 
meditations  I  have  so  held  it.  For  you  have  to  consider,  my 
dear,  that  you  have  been  led  by  a  peculiar  path,  and  into  ex- 
pcrienct.'  which  is  not  ordinarily  the  lot  of  those  who  are  seated 
in  higli  places  ;  and  what  I  have  hinted  to  you  already  in  my 
letters  on  this  head,  I  shall  wish  on  a  future  opportunit}^  to 
enter  into  more  at  large." 

Esther  was  uneasily  silent.  On  this  great  question  of  her 
lot  she  saw  doubts  and  dilliculties,  in  which  it  seemed  as  if 
her  father  could  not  lielp  her.  Tliere  was  no  illumination  for 
her  in  tliis  theory  of  providential  arrangement.  Slie  said  sud- 
denly (what  she  had  not  thought  of  at  all  suddenly)  — 

'•  Have  you  been  again  to  see  Felix  liolt,  father  ?  You 
have  not  mentioned  him  in  your  letters." 

•'  I  luive  been  since  I  last  Avrote,  my  dear,  and  I  took  his 
motlicr  with  nie,  wlio,  I  fear,  made  the  time  heavy  to  him  with 
licr  ])laints.  lUit  afterwards  I  carried  her  away  U)  tlie  house 
of  a  brdlhcr  minister  at  Loamford,  and  returned  to  Felix,  and 
then  we  had  nmch  discourse." 

"Did  you  tidl  him  of  everything  that  has  happened  —  1 
mean  aliout  nie  — alxjut  tlie  Ti'ans«nues  ?" 

"Assur<Ml]y  I  told  him,  and  lie  listened  as  one  astonished. 
I'^or  he  ha<l  much  to  hear,  knowing  nought  of  your  birth,  and 
that  you  had  any  C'ther  father  than  Rufus  Lyon.  "T  is  a  nai'- 
rative  T  trust  I  shall  not  be  called  on  to  give  to  others;  but  I 
^sa::  iiot  without  satisfaction  in  unfolding  the  truth  to  this 
young    inaii,    who    hath    wrought    himself    into    my    aii'ection 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  401 

strangely  —  I  would  fain  hope  for  ends  that  will  be  a  visible 
good  ill  his  less  way-worn  life,  when  mine  shall  be  no  longer." 

'■  And  you  told  him  how  the  Transomes  had  come,  and  that 
I  was  staying  at  Transonic  Court  ?  " 

''  Yes,  1  told  these  things  with  some  particularity,  as  is  my 
wont  concerning  what  hath  imprinted  itself  on  my  mind." 

"  What  did  Felix  say  ?  "' 

"  Truly,  my  ilear,  nothing  desirable  to  recite,"  said  Mr.  Lyon, 
rubbing  his  hand  over  his  brow. 

"Dear  father,  he  did  say  something,  and  you  always  remem- 
ber what  people  say.     Pray  tell  me  ;  I  want  to  know." 

"It  was  a  hasty  remark,  and  rather  escaped  him  than  was 
consciously  framed.  He  said,  '  Then  she  will  marry  Transome  ; 
that  is  what  Transome  means.'  " 

"  That  was  all  ? "  said  Esther,  turning  rather  pale,  and 
biting  her  lip  with  the  determination  that  the  tears  should 
not  start. 

"  Yes,  WG  did  not  go  further  into  that  Iwanch  of  the  subject. 
I  apprehcuil  there  is  no  warrant  for  his  seeming  prognostic, 
and  I  slujuld  not  be  witht)ut  disipiiet  if  I  thought  oth(U'wise, 
For  I  confes.s  that  in  your  aceession  to  this  great  position  and 
j)ropiTty,  r  coiitenipiate  with  iKi^x^ful  satisfaction  your  remain- 
ing attached  to  tliat  body  of  congregational  Dissent,  which,  as 
1  hold,  liath  retained  most  of  })ure  and.  primitive  discijiline. 
Your  education  and  peculiar  history  would  tims  be  seen  to 
have  coincided  with  a  long  train  of  events  in  making  this 
family  }iroj)crty  a  mean  of  honoring  and  illustrating  a  purer 
form  iif  Christianity  than  that  v/hich  hath  unhapj)ily  obtained 
the  [irc-eminence  in  this  laud.  T  sjieal-;,  my  child,  as  you  know, 
always  iu  the  hope  that  you  will  fully  join  our  communion; 
and  this  dc  ir  wish  of  my  heart  —  nay.  tliis  urgent  prayer  — 
would  secui  to  be  frustratc(l  by  your  marriage  with  a  man.  of 
whom  thcr(>  is  at  least  no  visible  indication  that  he  would 
unite   hiiuself  to  cmr  body." 

If  Esther  had    been   less   agitated,  she  would  hardly   have 

]u'l})ed  smiling  at  the  pictui'e  her  father's  words  sugc^ested  of 

1  birold   Transome   ''joining  the  church"  in  ]\Ialthouse  Yard. 

i^ut  slie  was  too  seriously   prem'cupied  with   what   Felix  hud 

'fu  111.  '''"i 


i02  FELIX  HOT-T,   THE   RADICAL. 

said,  which  hurt  her  in  a  two-edged  fashion  that  was  highly 
significant.  First,  she  was  angry  with  him  for  daring  to  say 
positively  wlioia  she  would  marry  ;  secondly,  she  was  angry  at 
the  implication  that  there  was  from  the  first  a  cool  deliberate 
design  m  Harold  Transome  to  marry  her.  Esther  said  to  her- 
self iliat  she  was  quite  capable  of  discerning  Harold  Transome's 
disposiiion.  nvA  jiid-,ing  of  his  conduct.  She  felt  sure  he  was 
geuf'rous  and  o})v'n.  It  did  not  lower  him  in  her  opinion  that 
since  circumstances  had  brouglit  thf:m  together  he  evidently 
admired  her  —  v/as  in  love  with  her  —  in  hliort,  desired  to 
marry  her ;  and  she  thought  that  she  disd'rned  the  delicacy 
which  hindered  him  from  being  nu>re  ex})licit.  There  is  no 
]ioint  on  which  young  women  ari'  more  easily  piqned  than  this 
of  tlii-ir  suilicicjicy  to  judge  the  men  who  make  love  t(/  them. 
Ami  Esther's  g('ner(jus  natm-e  delighted  to  bt-lit  vp  m  genei- 
osity.  All  these  thoughts  were  making  a  tunuilt  in  her  minil 
while  her  father  was  suggesting  the  radiance  her  lot  might 
cast  on  the  cause  of  congregational  Dissent.  She  heard  what 
he  said,  and  remembered  it  afterwards,  but  she  mad..;  no  rei)ly 
at  present,  and  chose  rather  to  start  up  in  search  of  a  brush 
—  an  action  wliich  would  seem  to  her  father  quite  a  usual 
sequence  w;tu  her.  It  served  the  purjiose  of  divertuig  lum 
from  a  huigthy  subject. 

'•  Havt;  3'ou  yt't  sjjoken  with  INfr.  Transome  concerning  Mrs. 
Holt,  my  dear?"'  lit-  said,  as  Esther  was  mo:ving  alitnit  the 
I'ooni.  '•  I  liintid  to  him  that  you  would  best  decide  how 
as-istanco  shoull  ])v  tendered  to  her."' 

'•]N'(<,  father,  Wf  have  not  a]i|n'oachrd  the  subject.  iMr. 
Transome  may  have  forgotten  it,  and.  lor  several  reasons,  I 
would  rather  not  talk  nf  this  —  of  money  matters  to  him  at 
y)re.sent.  Tiiere  is  money  due  to  mt;  from  the  Lulcyns  and  the 
Pendrells." 

"Tle-y  liave  paiil  it.''  said  ]\lr  Lyon,  opening  his  dp«-:k.  "1 
have  it  hei'e  rea<ly  To  deliver  to   you." 

"Keep  it.  father.  ;iiiil  pay  Mrs.  Holt's  rent  witli  it,  and  do 
anything  else  that  i-  -.vanted  For  lier.  We  niust  consider  every- 
thing temjjorary  w^w."  sa;d  Ksther.  enveloping  her  father  in  a 
towel,  and  beginninir  to  brush  liis  auburn  fringe  of  hs»»r,  while 


FELIX    HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  403 

he  shut  his  eyes  in  preparation  for  this  pleasant  passivity. 
'•  Everything  is  uncertain  —  what  may  become  of  Felix  —  what 
may  become  of  us  all.  Oh  dear  I ''  she  went  on,  changing  sud- 
denly to  laughing  merriment,  '-I  am  beginning  to  talk  like 
Lyddy,  I  think." 

''Trul\-,"  said  ^.Ir.  Lyon,  smiling,  '-'the  uncertainty  of  things 
is  a  text  rather  too  wide  and  obvious  f(  r  fruitful  application; 
and  to  discourse  of  it  is,  as  one  may  say.  to  bottle  up  the  air, 
and  make  a  present  of  it  to  those  who  are  already  standing 
lut  of  doors." 

'•  I)(i  you  think,"  saiil  Esther,  in  the  course  of  their  chat, 
■■tluit  the  Treby  pcoph'  know  at  all  about  the  reasons  of  my 
oeing  at  Trausome  Ct)urt  ?  " 

'■  1  have  iiad  no  sign  thereof  ;  and  indeed  there  is  no  one,  as 
it  appears,  who  eordd  make  the  story  public.  The  man  Chris- 
tian is  away  in  London  with  ^Ir.  Uebarry,  Parliament  now 
beginning  ;  and  ^Iv.  .Jermyn  would  doubtless  respect  the  con- 
lidtMHH'  of  the  Transfuues.  I  have  not  seen  him  lately.  I 
know  ir  thing  (d'  his  movements.  And  so  far  as  my  own 
speceli  IS  (^oiii'crni'd,  and  my  strict  command  to  Lyddy,  I  liave 
witldifid  tile  iiit'ans  of  information  even  as  to  your  having  re- 
turned to  Transonii'  Court  in  tlu'  eari'i;ig(\  not  wishing  to  give 
anv  occasion  to  solicitous  qnestioning  till  time  hath  souiewliat 
iinireil  nie.  liii;  it  hath  got  abroad  that  you  arc  there,  and  is 
tlio  subject  of  eonjeetures,  whereof,  T  im;)gine.  tlie  chief  is, 
that  y(ju  ni'c  gone  ns  conijianion  to  IMistress  Th'ansome  ;  for 
Some  of  oui-  fi-iendis  ha\'i'  alre:!dy  hinted  a  rt'])idve  to  me  that  I 
shoidd  ])"rniit  your  falling  a  position  so  little  likely  to  further 
your  spirit  u:il  wi'l  j'::re." 

••  Now.  fatii!  I',  r  tliiidc  T  shall  be  obliged  to  run  away  from 
you,  no-  to  keeii  the  Carriage  too  long,"'  said  ]i!sth(n',  as  she 
finished  litu-  i-eforms  on  the  uiindst'er's  toilet.  "You  lf>ok 
beautiful  neiw,  and  I  niu-t  give   Lyddy  a  little  lecture  before 

"Yes,  my  dear;  T  would  n<.r  detain  you.  seeing  that  my 
duties  demand  me.  ]?ut  tak*-  with  you  this  Treatise,  which 
^  luive  purpostdy  ■••U'cted.  It  eoncerns  all  the  main  ones 
tiun-  .'-tweeu  ourselves  and  tiie  Establishment  —  governn.-ui: 


404  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

discipline,  State-support.  It  is  seasonable  that  you  should  give 
a  nearer  attention  to  these  polemics,  lest  you  be  drawn  aside 
by  the  fallacious  association  of  a  State  Cliurch  with  elevated 
rank." 

Esther  chose  to  take  the  volume  submissively,  rather  than 
to  adopt  the  ungraceful  sincerity  of  saying  that  she  was  unable 
at  present  to  give  her  mind  to  the  original  functions  of  a 
bishop,  or  the  comparative  merit  of  Endowments  and  Volun- 
taryism. But  she  did  not  run  her  eyes  over  the  pages  during 
her  solitary  drive  to  get  a  foretaste  of  the  argument,  for  she 
was  entirely  occupied  with  Felix  Holt's  prophecy  that  she 
would  marry  Harold  Transome. 


CHAPTER   XLII. 

Thon  s.iyst  it,  and  not  T ;  for  thou  hast  dono 
Tho  ugly  deed  tJiat  made  these  ugly  words. 

Soniocj.ES ;  Electro. 

Yea,  it  becomes  a  man 
To  rlierisli  memorv,  whert;  he  had  delight. 
For  kindness  is  tlie  natural  birth  of  kindness. 
Wliosf  soul  rocords  not  the  great  debt  of  joy, 
Is  stanijied  forever  an  iguoble  man. 

Soi'iiocLES  :  Ajax. 

Tt  so  luipponed  that,  on  flie  morning  of  the  day  when 
EstluT  Weill:  to  see  her  father,  .Termyn  had  not  yet  heard  of 
her  presence  at  Transome  Court,  (hie  fact  condi;cing  to  kec]) 
him  in  tliis  ignorance  was.  that  some  days  after  his  critical 
intei'view  witli  Harold  —  days  during  which  he^  had  been 
wondering  Ikiw  long  it  would  be  befori^  Harold  made  up  his 
mind  to  sacrili!'o  tli(^  luxury  of  satisfied  anger  for  the  solid 
advantage  of  securin'g  fortune  and  position — he  was  peremp- 
torily ealled  away  by  business  to  llio  sotith  of  England,  and 
\-.as  obIige,d  to  inform    Harold  by  letter  of  his   absence.     He 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    KADICAL.  405 

took  care  also  to  notify  his  lu turn ;  but  Harold  made  no  sign 
in  reply.  The  days  passed  without  bringing  him  any  gossip 
concerning  Estlier's  visit,  for  such  gossip  was  almost  confined 
to  Mr.  Lyon"s  congregation,  her  Church  pupils.  Miss  Louisa 
Jermyn  among  them,  having  been  satisfied  by  her  father's 
written  statement  that  she  was  gone  on  a  visit  of  uncertain 
duration.  ISut  on  this  day  of  Esther's  call  in  3lalthouse  Yard, 
tlie  -Miss  Jernivns  in  their  walk  saw  her  getting  into  the 
I'raiisonu's'  cLirriage,  which  they  had  previously  observed  to  be 
wiiiting,  and  which  they  now  saw  bowled  along  on  the  road 
towards  Little  Trcby.  It  followed  that  only  a  few  hours  latei 
the  ]i(>\vs  reached  the  astonished  ears  of  Matthew  Jermyn. 

Entirely  ignorant  of  those  converging  indications  and  small 
links  of  incident  which  had  raised  Christian's  conjectures, 
and  had  graduidly  contributed  to  put  him  in  possession  of  the 
facts  ;  ignorant  too  of  some  busy  motives  in  the  mind  of  his 
ol)liged  stu'vant  Johnson  ;  Jermyn  was  not  lik(dy  to  see  at 
once  how  the  momentous  inforuuxtion  that  Esther  was  the 
surviving  I'yclirfe  could  possibly  have  reached  Harold.  His 
daughters  naturally  leaped,  as  others  had  done,  to  the  con- 
clusion that  the  Transomes,  seeking  a  governess  for  little 
Harry,  had  liad  theii-  choice  directed  to  Esther,  and  observed 
tliat  they  must  have  attrai'te(l  her  l)y  a  high  salary  to  induce 
her  to  t;d<e  chai'ge  of  such  a  small  pupil  ;  though  of  course  it 
was  im[)ortant  that  his  Ihiglish  and  Fi'ench  should  be  carefully 
atteiuled  to  irom  the  fii'st.  Jermyn,  hearing  this  sugg(\^tion, 
was  not  without  a  nionientary  ho})(^  that  it  miglit  be  true,  and 
that  Harold  was  still  sa,  Fely  nncdUsciitTis  of  having  undei- the 
same  roof  with  iiiiii  the  legal  claimant  of  tlie  family  estate. 

P)Ut  a  miml  in  the  gr^^p  of  ,i  terrible  anxiety  is  not  credu- 
lous of  easy  solutions.  'I'he  one  stay  tluit  bears  up  our  lujpes 
is  sui'e  to  appeal'  fi'aih  ami  i  i'  looiced  at  long  will  seem  to  totter. 
T(.)o  nmch  depended  on  that  uneonseiousness  of  Harold's;  and 
alt  lioU'.;li  -leiaiiyu  did  not  see  tlie  eourse  of  things  that  eould 
li,ive  di:  closed  and  conioiiHul  llii'  various  items  of  kno\vledixe 
\\hi(di  li"  had  iniagim  d  to  be  hi.-,  own  secret,  a.nd  tliendoi'e  his 
■■ab",niard.  li:-  saw  ijuitt'  id";:';}"  what  was  likt  I  y  to  be  the 
result  of  the  disclosure.     iSot  only  would   Harold  Transome 


106  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

be  DO  longer  afraid  of  him,  but  also,  by  marrying  Esther 
(and  Jermyn  at  once  felt  sure  of  this  issue),  he  would  be 
triumphantly  freed  from  any  unpleasant  consequences;  and 
could  pursue  much  at  his  ease  the  gratification  of  ruining 
Matthew  Jermyn.  The  prevision  of  an  enemy's  triumphant 
ease  is  in  any  case  sufficiently  irritating  to  hatred,  and  there 
were  reasons  why  it  was  peculiarly  exasperating  here ;  but 
Jermyn  had  not  the  leisure  now  for  mere  fruitless  emotion: 
he  had  to  think  of  a  possible  device  which  might  save  him 
from  imminent  ruin  —  not  an  indeiinit(.'  adversit}*,  Imt  a  ruin 
in  detail,  which  his  thoughts  painted  out  with  the  sharpest, 
ugliest  intensity.  A  man  of  sixty,  with  an  unsuspicious  wife 
and  daughters  capable  of  shrieking  and  fainting  at  a  sudden 
reve  ation,  and  of  looking  at  him  reproachfully  in  their  daily 
misery  under  a  shabby  lot  to  which  he  had  ]'cduced  them  — 
witli  a-  mind  and  ^nth  habits  dried  hard  by  tlii^  years — with 
no  glimpse  of  an  endura'ole  standing-ground  except  where  he 
could  domineer  and  Ije  prosp'crous  according  to  the  ambitions 
of  pushing  middle-class  gentility,  —  such  a-  man  is  lik(dy  to 
find  the  prospect  of  worldly  ruin  ghastly  enough  to  drive  him 
tc  th"  most  uninviting  means  of  escajje.  lie  will  jirobably 
prefer  any  private  scorn  that  will  save  hini  from  jmblic  in- 
famy or  that  will  leave^  him  money  in  his  pocket,  to  the 
humiliation  and  liardshi])  of  new  s(!rvitude  in  old  age,  a  shabby 
hat  and  a  melancholy  hearth,  where  the  lii'ing  nn;st  be  used 
(haiily  and  the  Avonien  look  sad.  r>ut  thor.gh  a  man  may  bo 
■willing  to  escape  thr(;agh  a  si'wer,  a  se^^'er  with  an  outlet  into 
tin;  di'v  air  is  not  alwa.A  s  at  hauil.  liunning  away,  especially 
when  sjioki'ii  or  as  abscrmding,  seems  at  a  distance  to  offer  a 
good  iiienlerii  s'.ii;stituto  fo]'  thi'  right  of  sanr'tuaiy  ;  but  seen 
closely,  it  is  ofte'i  found  inconvcmient  and  scar{-ely  possible. 

Jinanyn,  on  fl:'i]-ou';hly  considering  his  position,  saw  that 
he  had  no  very  a'^r;  './hlo  I'esources  at  command.  ]>ut  he  soon 
nmde  up  his  niln  i  v.hal  he  would  do  next.  He  wrote  to  Mrs. 
Ti'ansome  reriu:,  ting  iier  to  appoint  an  hour  in  which  he  could 
8e(.'  her  [irivately  :  hf  l;new  she  would  understand  that  it  was 
to  be  an  hour  w'len  Ilaiold  was  not  at  home.  As  he  scaled 
t:;e  letter,  he  indulged  a.  taint  hope  that  in  this  interview  lia 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  407 

might  be  assured  of  Esther's  birth  being  unknown  at  Tmn- 
some  Court ;  but  in  the  worst  case.  perha})S  some  help  might 
be  found  in  Mrs.  Transome.  To  such  uses  may  tender  rela- 
tions come  when  they  have  ceased  to  be  tender  !  The  Hazaels 
of  our  world  who  are  pushed  on  quickly  against  their  precon- 
ceived coniidence  in  themselves  to  do  dogiike  actions  by  the 
sudden  suggestion  of  a  wicked  ambition,  are  much  fewer  than 
those  who  are  led  on  through  the  years  by  the  gradual  de- 
mands of  a  seltishness  which  has  spread  its  libres  far  and  wide 
through  the  intricate  vanities  and  sordid  cares  of  an  every- 
tlay  existence. 

In  consequence  of  that  letter  to  Mrs.  Transome,  Jerniyn 
Fas  two  days  afterwards  ushered  into  the  smaller  drawing- 
,-oom  at  Transome  Court.  It  was  a  charming  little  room  in 
<s  refurbished  condition  :  it  had  two  pretty  inlaid  cabinets, 
;-feat  china  vases  with  contents  that  sent  forth  odors  of  para- 
c-se,  groups  of  flowers  in  oval  frames  on  the  walls,  and  Mrs. 
T'>ansome's  own  portrait  in  the  evening  costume  of  1800,  with 
a  garden  in  the  b'ickground.  Tiiat  brilliant  young  woman 
looked  smilingly  down  on  AEr.  Jermyn  as  he  passed  in  front 
of  the  fire  ;  and  at  })resent  hers  was  the  only  gaze  in  the  room. 
He  could  not  help  meeting  the  gaze  as  lie  waited,  holding  his 
hat  bfrliind  him — ^  could  not  hcl[)  seeing  many  memories  lit 
up  by  it ;  but  the  strong  bent  of  his  mind  Avas  to  go  on  argu- 
ing each  mem(.)ry  into  a  claim,  and  to  see  in  the  regard  others 
luid  for  him  a  nu'rit  of  his  own.  There  had  been  plenty  of 
roads  open  to  him  when  he  was  a  young  man  ;  ])erhaps  if  he 
had  not  allowed  himself  to  be  determined  (chiefly,  of  coui'se, 
by  the  feelings  of  others,  for  of  what  effect  would  his  own 
feelings  have  been  without  them  ?)  into  the  road  he  actually 
took,  lie  might  hiivo  don.e  lielter  fur  himself.  At  any  rate,  he 
was  likely  ;it  last  to  get  the  wor.;t  of  it,  and  it  was  he  wlio  had 
most  reason  to  eom})lain.  Tlu^  fortunate  Jason,  as  we  know 
fT(un  Euri])jdes,  ])iously  thanked  the  goddess,  and  saw  clearly 
that  he  was  not  at  all  obliged  to  Medea:  Jermyn  was  perhaps 
nut  a.vare  of  the  precedent,  but  thuiight  out  his  own  freedom 
from  o'hligation  and  the  imlebti'driess  of  c;thers  towards  him 
with   a  native  faculty  not  inierior  to  Jason's. 


408  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

Before  three  Jiiinutes  liad  passed,  liowever,  as  if  l:)y  some 
sorcery,  tli"  brilliant  smiling  young  woman  above  the  mantel- 
piece seemed  to  be  appearing  at  the  doorway  withered  and 
frosted  by  many  winters,  and  with  lips  and  eyes  from  which 
tlie  smile  had  departed.  Jermyn  advanced,  and  they  shook 
hands,  but  neither  of  them  said  anything  by  way  of  greeting. 
-Mrs.  Transonic  seated  herself,  and  poinied  to  a  chair  opposite 
and  near  her. 

''  Harold  has  gone  to  Loamford."'  she  said,  in  a  subdued 
tone.     '"'You  had  sonielhing  particular  t(j  say  to  nic  ?  " 

"Yes,'"  said  Jernivn,  witli  his  soft  and  d'-lVrcntial  air.  ''The 
last  time  I  was  here  1  could  n(jt  take  the  opjKatnnity  of  speak- 
ing to  you.  But  I  am  anxi(jus  to  know  whetlnu-  you  are  aware 
of  what  has  jjassed  between  iim  and  Harold  ?  ■' 

'•  Yes,  he  has  told  me  everything."' 

"About  his  proceedings  against  me?  and  the  reason  he 
stoppeii  them  ?  " 

•'■  Yes :  have  you  had  notice  tliat  he  has  Ijegun  them 
ag;dn  ?  " 

'•' Xo,"  said  Jermyn,  with  a  very  unpleasant  sensation. 

''Of  course  he  will  now."  said  Mrs.  'I'ransome.  "There  is 
no  r('ason  in  his  mind  why  he  shouhl  not." 

"Has  he  resolved  to  risk  the  estate  then  ?  " 

"  H(;  fe(:ls  in  no  danger  on  that  score.  And  if  there  were, 
the  danger  (hjes  n't  depiqul  on  you.  Tlie  UKjst  lik(,'ly  thing  is, 
that  he  will  mai'i'y  this  giih"' 

'•  'He  knows  everything  then  ?  "  said  Jermyn,  the  expression 
ef  his  (■;"■<.  getting  clouded. 

•■  Mvery thing.  It's  of  no  use  for  you  to  think  (jf  nuistering 
Ijim  :  you  ean't  ilo  it.  I  u-^ed  to  wish  Hai-ohl  tn  be  bu-tunate 
—  and  lie  i:<  ferlunide,""  said  ?^Irs.  Transome,  with  intense  bit- 
terness.     '•  It  's  lint  my  <tai   ih;it"  he  iidierits."' 

"I>o}(;u  know  how  iie  came  b_\  the  iniormation  about  this 
girl  •.'  " 

'•  No  ;  but  she'  knew  it  all  before  we  spoke  to  Iier.  It 's  no 
secret.'' 

.Ierm}-n  was  c-onfoiiii'iei'  by  thi.-^  hopeless  frustration  to  which 
li.;  had  no  key.      i'iiougii   ih    thougiit  ui  Christian,  the  thought 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  409 

shed  no  light;  but  tlie  more  fatid  point  was  clear  :  he  held  no 
secret  tho.t  could  help  him. 

"  You  are  aware  that  these  Chancery  proceedings  may  ruin 
me  ?  " 

•'•  He  told  me  they  would.  But  if  you  are  imagining  that 
T  can  do  anytliing,  dismiss  the  notion.  I  have  told  him  as 
olainly  as  I  dare  that  I  wisli  him  to  drop  all  public  quarrel 
witli  }'ou,  and  that  you  could  make  an  arrangement  without 
scandal.  I  can  do  no  more.  He  will  not  listen  to  me  ;  he 
does  n't  mind  about  my  feelings.  He  cares  more  for  Mr.  Tran- 
:;ome  than  he  does  for  me.  He  will  not  listen  to  me  any  more 
than  if  I  were  an  old  ballad-singer." 

'•  rt  's  very  hard  on  nic,  I  know,"  said  Jermyn,  in  the  tone 
with  which  a  man  flings  out  a  re[iroach. 

''  1  besought  you  three  months  ago  to  bear  anything  rather 
than  quarrul  with  him."' 

"I  havr  net  quarrelled  with  him.  It  is  he  who  has  been 
always  seeking  a  quarrel  with  me.  I  have  borne  a  good  deal 
—  more  lh;in  au}' one  else  would.  lie  set  his  teeth  against 
me  from  the  lirst."' 

"  He  saw  things  that  annoyed  him  ;  and  men  are  not  like 
women,"  said  ^Nlrs.  Transonic.  There  was  a  bitter  innuendo  in 
that  truism. 

'"'It's  v(>ry  hard  on  me  —  I  know  that,"  said  Jermyn,  witli 
an  intensihcation  of  his  previous  tone,  risi.ig  and  walking  a 
step  or  two,  tlieii  turning  and  laying  liis  liand  on  the  liaok  (if 
the  chair.  "  ( )f  eoTirse  the  law  in  this  ease  can't  in  the  least 
nqires'Mil:  tlie  justice  of  the  matter.  1  made  a  grx.id  m;iny  sac- 
^'ilicf's  in  times  past.  I  gave  ud  a  great  deal  ol'  ilne  business 
for  tlie  sake  of  attending  to  the  {'amily  affairs,  aaid  in  that  law- 
'-aiit  they  would  have  gone  to  rack  and  ruin  ii  it  hadn't  bi'eu 
for  me." 

We  moved  away  again,  laid  ilnwn  his  hat.  wliich  \\o  had  been 
ju'cviously  liulding.  aial  thru>t  iii>  liands  inn>  hi>  poclvcts  as  he 
returned.  ^Irs.  Tra'isome  sa!  nictionless  as  mar!)h'.  and  almost 
as  ])ale.  Her  liauds  lay  (n'ossed  on  lier  knees.  'I'liis  man. 
\'oung.  slim,  and  gi'aceful,  with  a  seltishncss  wliieh  then  took 
the  funii  ui  liumage  to  her.  liad  at  one  time  k.neeled  to  lier  auei 


410  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

kissed  those  hands  fervently  ;  and  she  had  thought  there  was 
a  poetry  in  such  passion  beyond  any  to  be  found  in  every-day 
domesticity. 

"I  stretched  my  conscience  a  good  deal  in  that  affair  of 
Bycliffe,  as  you  know  perfectly  well.  I  told  you  everything 
at  the  time.  I  told  you  I  was  very  uneasy  about  those  wit- 
nesses, and  about  getting  him  thrown  into  prison.  I  know  it's 
the  blackest  thing  anybody  could  charge  me  with,  if  they  knew 
my  life  from  beginning  to  end  ;  and  I  should  never  have  done 
it,  if  I  had  not  been  under  an  infatuation  such  as  makes  a 
man  do  anything.  What  did  it  signify  to  me  about  the  loss 
of  tiie  lawsuit?  I  was  a  young  bachelor  —  I  had  the  world 
before  me." 

'•  Ves,"'  said  ^Ivs.  Transome,  in  a  low  tone.  ''It  was  a  pity 
you  did  n"t  make  another  choice." 

'•  What  woulit  have  become  of  you?"  said  Jermyn,  carried 
along  a  climax,  like  other  self-justifiers.  "  I  had  to  think  of 
you.  You  would  not  have  liked  me  to  make  another  choice 
then." 

'•'  Clearly/'  said  Mrs.  Transome,  with  concentrated  bitterness, 
but  still  quietly,  "  the  greater  mistake  was  mine." 

Egoism  is  usually  stu})id  in  a  dialogue  ;  but  Jermyn's  did 
not  make  him  so  stujtid  that  he  did  not  feel  the  edge  of  Mrs. 
Transome's  words.     They  increased  his  irritation. 

"  I  hardly  see  that,"  lie  replied,  with  a  sli,:;-ht  laugh  of  scorn. 
■'  Vou  liad  an  estate  and  a  position  to  save,  t(j  go  no  farther. 
I  r(>iiieinb(M'  very  well  v/hat  you  said  to  aie —  '  A  clever  lawyer 
can  do  anything  if  he  has  the  will;  if  it's  impossible,  he  will 
make  it  possible.  And  the  property  is  sure  to  be  Harold's 
some  day.'     I  bj  was  a  baby  then." 

"  I  reiiiciid)er  most  tilings  a  little  too  well :  you  had  better 
say  at  oiicc  wliat  is  your  object  in  recalling  them." 

"An  object  tiiat  is  nothing  v  re  tlian  justice.  With  the 
relati(ui  I  stood  in,  it  was  not  likely  f  sJKJidd  think  myself 
Ixjund  by  al!  the  fornis  that  are  iiiade  to  bind  strangers.  T 
had  often  iiniueuse  trtjiible  to  raise  the  money  necessary  to 
pay  (j\'f  d(d)t,-5  and  caia^y  on  the  aiiairs  ;  and.  as  I  said  befoie, 
i  hail  given  up  other  Yina  of  advancement  which  would  have 


^'  nr  ,  vvj^''--'    '",'" 


v^*. 


v^  ^"^ 


i;-^i 


HMi     I.^'l^     \\,,     11  \i;,,[,l)    Tl: 


FELIX    HOLT,    THE   KAIMCAL.  411 

been  open  to  mc  if  I  liad  not  stuyccl  in  this  neigliborliood  at  a 
ciitical  time  wlu'u  I  Avas  fresh  to  tlie  workl.  Anybody  who 
knew  the  whole  eireumstanees  wouhl  say  that  my  being  hunted 
and  run  down  (ui  the  seore  of  my  past  transactions  with  regard 
t(i  the  family  affairs,  is  an  abominably  unjust  and  unnatural 
thing." 

Jermyn  paused  a  moment,  and  tlien  added,  "At  my  time  of 
life  .  .  .  and  with  a  family  about  me  —  and  after  what  has 
passed  ...  I  should  have  thought  there  was  nothing  you 
would  care  more  to  prevent."' 

'■'  1  do  care.  It  midces  me  miserable.  That  is  the  extent  of 
my  power  —  to  feel  miserable.'' 

"Xo,  it  is  not  the  extent  of  your  power.  You  could  save 
me  if  y(.ni  would.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  Harold  would 
go  on  against  me  ...  if  he  knew  the  whole  truth." 

Jermyn  had  sat  down  before  he  uttered  the  hist  words.  He 
had  lowered  his  voice  slightly.  He  had  the  air  of  one  who 
thought  that  lie  li;ul  prejiared  the  way  for  an  understanding. 
'I'hat  a  man  with  so  niueh  sharpness,  with  so  much  suavit}-  at 
command  —  a  man  who  piqued  himself  on  his  persuasiveness 
towards  worn. 'u. — should  behave  just  as  Jermyn  did  on  this 
occasion,  W(iU)d  lie  surprising,  but  for  the  constant  experience 
that  tenijicr  and  seltish  insensibility  will  defeat  excellent  gifts 
—  will  make  a  scnsiM'-  j)erson  shout  wlion  shouting  is  out  of 
]iiact\  and  will  make  a  polidu'd  man  rude  when  his  polish  might 
be  of  eminent  use  to  him. 

As  ,Jeniiyn.  sitting  down  and  leaning  foi'ward  with  an  elbow 
on  his  knee,  ntter(Ml  !iis  last-  words  —  ••  if  lie  knew  the  whole 
truth" — -a  sliglit  shoclc  seemed  to  ])ass  througli  Mrs.  I'ran- 
some's  lutherto  nioiionless  body,  ioilowtnl  by  a  sudden  light  in 
her  eyi>s,  as  in  an  animal's  about  to  spring. 

'•  .vud  you  expi.'ct  me  to  tell  liiiii '.' '"  slie  said,  not  louiUy.  but 
yet  witli  a  clear  metallic  ring  in  h,'r  voice. 

••  \\'ould  it  not  be  right  for  liiai  t  :  Ivuow  ?  "  said  Jermyn,  in 
a  nion^  l)land  and  {lersuasivt^  lone  liiaii  he  had  yet  used. 

Perhaps  some  ot  tlie  most  teri'ible  irony  of  tlie  Iiuman  lot  is 
this  of  a.  deep  truth  coming  to  be  uttered  by  lips  tliat  have  no 
ri_dit  to  it. 


412  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

''I  will  never  tell  him!'"  said  Mrs.  Transome,  starting  up, 

her  wJiole  iraiiie  thrilled  with  a  passion  that  seemed  almost  to 
iuak('  her  young  again.  Her  hands  hung  Iji^side  her  clenched 
tigutiy,  her  eyes  and  lips  lost  the  helpless  repressed  bitterness 
oi  di.jeontent,  and  seemed  suddenly  ted  with  energy.  "  You 
reckon  up  your  sacrifices  fov  me  :  you  have  kept  a  good  account 
of  them,  and  it  is  needful;  they  are  some  of  them  what  no  one 
else  could  guess  or  find  out.  But  you  made  your  sacrifices 
when  they  seemed  pleasant  to  you;  whs-n  you  told  me  they 
were  your  hajipiness  ;  when  you  told  me  that  it  was  I  who 
Btoop(:(l,  and  1  who  bestowed  favors." 

Jt'i'iuyn  rosi!  too,  and  laid  his  hand  on  the  back  of  the  chair. 
He  had  grown  visibly  paler,  but  seemed  about  to  Sjjcak. 

"I)on"t  speak!"'  .Mrs.  Trans(jme  said  jjeremptorily.  '"'Don't 
open  your  liijs  again.  You  have  said  enough  ;  I  will  speak 
now.  I  have  nuide  sacrifices  too,  but  it  was  when  I  knew  that 
tlicy  were  not  my  happiness.  It  was  after  I  saw  that  I  hud 
stooped  —  after  I  saw  that  your  tenderness  had  turned  into  cah 
culation  —  after  I  saw  that  you  cared  for  ycairself  only,  and  not 
for  me.  I  heard  your  explanations  — of  your  duty  in  life  —  of 
our  mutual  reputation — of  a  virtuous  young  lady  attached  to 
you.  1  bori-  it;  I  let  everything  go  ;  I  sliut  my  eyes  ;  I  might 
almost  ]iav(^  let  myself  starve,  rather  than  have  scenes  of  (piari-el 
witli  the  man  I  had  loved,  in  wliich  I  must  accuse  him  of  turning 
my  love  into  a  g0(jd  bargain."'  Thoi'c  was  a  sliglit  tremor  in 
^Irs.  Tiansome"s  voicc'  in  the  last  words,  and  for  a  moment  she 
j»a,ii(M]  ;  l;ut  wlien  she  spoke  again  it  seemed  as  if  the  tremor 
liad  IVo/eii  into  a.  cntring  icicle.  '■  1  su])])Ose  if  a  lovia'  jucked 
one"s  jjDcket,  there's  ikj  woman  would  like  to  own  it.  I  don't 
s;iy  J  w,i-  not  ai'i'aid  of  you:  I  //''s  afraid  of  you,  and  I  know 
now  I  "was  i-i;i,lit."' 

''  Mi's.  Ti-inisonie,"  said  Jeiaiiyn.  white  to  the  lips,  "it  is 
needless  to  say  more.  I  witlalraw  any  w(n'ds  tliat  liave  of- 
fended you." 

"  Vmi  c;in"f  withdiMw  tlii'iii.  r';in  a  man  apologize  for  beiiig 
a  diistai'd  ?  .  .  .  Anil  T  hav  e:;:,,>-d  you  to  strain  your  con- 
s  ieiieM,  have  I  '.''  —  it  is  T  wlio  havi'  sullie'd  yoni' purity?  I 
should  ijiink  the  dem<jns  have  more  honor-      tlicy  are  not  so 


FELIX   liOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  413 

impudent  to  one  another.  I  would  not  lose  the  misery  of  be- 
ing a  woman,  now  I  see  what  can  be  the  baseness  of  a  man. 
One  must  be  a  man  —  first  to  tell  a  woman  that  her  love  has 
made  her  your  debtor,  and  thtni  ask  her  to  pay  you  by  breaking 
the  last  })(>or  threads  between  her  ,ind  her  sun." 

'•  L  (h.»  nut  ask  it,"'  said  .lerniyn,  with  a  c;'rtain  asperity.  He 
was  beginning  to  find  this  intolerable.  The  mere  brute  strength 
ui'  a  masculine  creature  rebelled.  He  felt  almost  inclined  to 
throttle  tlio  voice  out  of  this  woman. 

"You  do  ask  it:  it  is  what  you  would  like.  I  have  had  a 
terror  on  me  lest  evil  hhould  happen  to  you.  Prom  the  first, 
after  Harold  came  home,  1  had  a  horrible  dread.  It  seemed 
as  if  murder  might  come  between  you  —  I  did  n't  know  what. 
I  felt  the  horror  of  his  not  knowing  the  truth.  I  might  have 
been  dragged  at  last,  by  niy  own  feeling  —  by  my  own  memory 
—  to  tell  him  all,  and  makt;  Inni  as  well  as  myself  miserable, 
to  save  you." 

Again  thtu'e  was  a  sliglit  ti'cnior,  as  if  at  the  remembrance  of 
womanly  tenderness  and  i)ity.  l!ut  immediately  she  launched 
forth  again. 

"  lUit  now  you  liave  asked  me,  T  will  never  tell  him  !  Be 
ruined  — no  —  do  something  more  dastai'dly  to  sav(^  yourself. 
If  I  sinnei].  my  judgment  went  beforehand  —  that  I  should  siu 
for  a  man  bk-'  you.'' 

Swiitly  upon  those  last  words  Mrs.  Transonic  passed  out  of 
tlie  room.  'I'lie  ^-dl'th'  ])added  door  eli'Si'd  behind  lier  making 
n:)  Tioi.-ic.  ami  dermNU  i'iiuii'!  himsell' alou". 

l^'or  a  brief  sjiaee  he  sl(M)d  still,  llrimaii  beings  in  moments 
oi'  passionate  i-e])r(ia<'h  and  denniicial  ion,  especiallv  when  their 
,inger  is  on  their  own  aecoiuit.  are  ne\-er  so  wholly  in  tlu^  right 
Miat:  the  pei'son  who  ha.s  to  wince  cajinot  ])0ssiblv  ]irotost 
against  some  unreasonableness  nv  uni'airness  in  their  outburst. 
And  if  .lermyn  had  been  cap:ible  of  feeling  that  lie  had  tjio'.'- 
ouu'hly  merited  this  aillict  ioii.  l:c  would  not  have  uttered  the 
words  that  ilrcw  it  down  on  hiii:.  Ab^i  do  not  become  iieiiitent 
antl  learn  lo  abhor  themsi'lves  by  having  their  b:teks  cut  oyicn 
witii  the  ]:\>]\:  rather,  they  learn  to  abhor  tl-'  lasli.  "What 
J-.  rmyn    lelt   abi.>iit  ^Ii's.  Tran>  'Uie  wlieu  she   disajaieared  wa-s, 


414  FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL. 

that  she  was  a  furioiis  woman  —  who  woidd  uot  do  what  he 
wanted  her  to  do.  And  he  was  supported  as  to  his  justiMable- 
ness  by  the  inward  repetition  of  what  he  liad  ah-eady  said  to 
her  ;  it  was  right  that  Harohl  should  know  the  truth.  He  did 
not  take  into  account  (how  should  he  ?)  the  exasperation  and 
loathing  excited  by  his  (liiring  to  urge  the  plea  of  right.  A 
man  who  had  stolen  the  pyx,  and  got  frighroned  when  justice 
was  at  his  lioels,  might  feel  the  sort  of  penitence  which  wouhl 
induce  him  to  run  back  in  the  dark  and  lay  the  pyx  where  the 
sext(.)n  might  i:nd  it;  but  if  in  doing  so  he  whispered  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin  that  he  was  moved  by  considering^  the  sacredness 
of  all  pro})(U'ty,  and  the  peculiar  sacredness  of  tlie  pyx,  it  is  not 
to  be  believed  that  she  would  like  hirii  the  better  for  it.  Indeed, 
one  often  seems  to  see  why  the  saints  should  prefer  candles 
to  words,  especially  from  penitents  whose  skin  is  in  danger. 
Some  ^:a';T  (  f  generosity  would  have  m;xde  Jermyn  conscious 
tb:;t  he  had  lost  the  citizenship  which  authorized  him  to  plead 
the  right ;  still  m:  a-e,  that  his  self-vindication  to  Mrs.  Transome 
would  be  like  the  exhibition  oi:  a  brand-mark,  and  only  show 
th.at  he  was  shame-}iroof.  There  is  herciism  even  in  the  circles 
of  ludl  for  fellow-sinners  who  cling  to  each  other  in  the  fiery 
whirlwind  and  never  recriminate.  But  these  things,  which  are 
easy  to  discern  when  they  are  painted  for  us  on  the  large  canvas 
of  poetic  stoiw.  becomi^  confused  and  obscure  even  for  weibread 
gentlemen  when  tle.'ir  nlTection  for  themselves  is  ahnaned  In- 
pressing  details  of  actual  experiiuice.  If  their  comparison  of 
instances  is  a,eti\'':'  at  such  times,  it  is  chiefly  in  showing  them 
that  their  own  ease  has  subtle  distinctions  from  all  other  cases, 
which  should  i're,>,  them  from_  unmitigated  condtunnati.on. 

And  it  was  in  this  way  with  "^d:!tfhew  Jennyn.  So  many 
things  were  more  distira  ;ly  v'sibh^  to  him,  an.d  touidu'd  him 
more  acutely,  than  the  elfect  of  his  a.cts  or  words  on  Tdrs.  Tra.n- 
some's  feelings  1  In  fact  —  he  a.sked,  with  a  touch  of  some- 
thing that  make>  us  all  aldn — was  it  not  pi'eposterons,  this 
excess  of  feeling  en  ])oints  wh.ich  hi'  himself  did  not  find  pow- 
erfully moving  ?  She  had  treated  him  most  unreasonably.  It 
woedd  haive  been  ri-ht  for  lier  to  do  what  he  had  -  not  asked, 
but   oiilv  hinted  at  iii  a  mild  and    interrugiitcuy  Uianner.     But 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  415 

the  cloarost  and  most  unpleasant  result  of  the  interview  was, 
that  this  ri<fht  thiui,'  which  lie  desired  so  much  would  certainly 
not  be  done  for  him  by  ]Mrs.  Transonic. 

As  he  was  moving  his  arm  from  the  chair-back,  and  turning 
to  take  his  hat,  there  was  a  boisterous  noise  in  the  entrance- 
liall ;  the  door  of  the  small  drawing-room,  which  had  closed 
without  lateliing,  was  puslied  open,  and  old  ^Nlr.  Transome 
ap})eared  witli  a  face  of  feeble  delight,  playing  horse  to  little 
Harry,  who  roared  and  flogged  behind  him,  while  Moro  yapped 
in  a  pn})py  voice  at  their  heels.  But  wlien  Mr.  Transome  saw 
Jermyn  in  the  room  he  stood  still  in  the  doorway,  as  if  he  did 
not  know  whether  entrance  were  permissible.  The  majority 
of  his  thoughts  were  but  ravelled  threads  oi:'  the  past.  The 
attorney  came  forward  to  shake  hands  with  due  politeness, 
lint  the  old  man  said,  with  a  bewildered  look,  and  in  a  hesi- 
tating way  — 

''■  ]\lr.  Jermyn  ?  —  why  —  why  —  where  is  Mrs.  Transonic  ?" 
Jermyn  sniih^d  his  way  out  past  tlie  unexpected  group  ;  and 
little    I  iai'ry,  lliinkisig  ii>'   Jiad  an  eligil)!*^  (Ujportunitv.  turned 
round  to  give  a  parting  stroive  on  the  stranger's  coat-taUb. 


CirvrTER  XLTIL 

Wl!iclic\or  wrty  my  days  dcclnio, 

T  frl!  ami  iVcl,  i  liium'li  Icl'i  alnne, 

iii>  Imiii-'  wi'i'kitiv'  ill  iiiiiic  uwu, 
Till'   hH,|>;r|i-  i]|'  !,!>  life  i.i  luillC. 

Dear  iViciiil,  fai-  (iff,  mv  lo>r  ilusiro 
Sm  i'ai',  S''  ii.'ar.  in  wnr  aii'l  \\'('a]  ; 

<),  Invc!    l!;i'   iiic-i    wlirli   limsl    I   fc'cl 

Tiiiji'u  is  ;i  luwcr  aua  a  liiL;iicr  ! 

TcNN  v.s(jN  :  In  Mnnonam. 

Aftkr  that  morning  on  which  F.^tlier  found  herself  reddened 
and  contused  by  the  sense  ot  havini;-  made  a  distant  allusion 
to  Friix  !!j't.  she    telt   it  impessiii'ie  tliat  she  should  even,  as 


416  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

she  had  sometimes  intended,  speak  of  him  explicitly  to  Harold, 
in  order  to  discuss  the  probabilities  as  to  the  issue  of  his  trial. 
She  was  certain  she  could  not  do  it  without  betraying  emotion, 
and  there  were  very  complex  reasons  in  Esther's  mind  why 
she  c^'uhl  not  bear  that  Harold  should  detect  her  sensibility 
on  tji'.i  subject.  It  was  not  only  all  the  fibres  of  maidenly 
pride  a;.,!  reserve,  of  abashfulness  undefinably  })eculiar  towards 
ihis  iuan,  v/iio,  while  much  older  than  herself,  and  bearing  the 
stamp  of  an  experience  quite  hidden  from  her  imagination, 
was  taking  strongly  the  aspect  of  a  lov^a-  —  it  was  not  only 
this  ex(|ul>.ite  kind  or  shame  which  Vv'as  at  work  v/itliin  lier: 
there  was  anotlier  sort  of  susee})tibility  in  Esther,  wiiich  iier 
ijresent  circumstances  tended  to  encourage,  though  she  Iiad 
come  to  regard  it  as  not  at  all  lofty,  bat  rather  as  something 
which  c(jndemnt'd  her  to  littleness  in  comparison  with  a  mind 
slie  had  l;_';u-ncd  to  venerate.  Slie  knt-w  quite  well  that,  to 
Harold  Transome,  Eclix  Holt  was  one  of  tlie  common  people 
who  couiii  coine  into  question  in  no  other  tlian  a  public  light. 
She  had  a  native  capability  for  discerning  tliat  the  sense  of 
ranks  and  degrees  has  its  repulsions  con-esponding  to  the 
re])ulsions  dependent  on  difference  of  race  and  color  ;  and  she 
remembered  her  own  impressions  too  wtdl  nut  to  foresee  that 
it  would  come  on  Harold  Transonre  as  a  shock,  if  he  suspected 
there  had  Ije'cn  any  love-passages  l)etween  her  and  tliis  young 
ujan,  who  to  him  was  of  course  no  more  than  any  otlier  intelli- 
gent memljer  of  the  working  class.  '•  To  jiim."'  saiil  l.silier  to 
herself,  with  a  reae'tion  of  her  newer,  betteu'  pride,  ••wlio  has 
not  had  the  sort  of  intercourse  in  whieli  I'elix  Holt's  eultured 
nature  would  have  asserted  its  suijerio]'ity.""  And  in  her 
fluctuations  on  this  niatt'^r,  she  found  luT.^elf  mentally  ]iro- 
testing  tha\.  vrhatevcf  Hai'old  niiu'ht  think,  thei'e  v/as  alight 
in  which  he  was  vulgar  ('ompare(l  A\iih  kelix.  Felix  had  iileas 
and  motives  whieh  she  did  n(;t  believe  that  Ha.rold  could 
understand.  ^lore' tlian  all,  there  was  this  test:  she  herself 
had  no  sense  of  iiifi-ri(jrity  and  just  subjectioJi  Avhen  slie  was 
with  Harold  Tran^tduf ;  then'  wei'e  even  points  in  him  for 
which  she  felt  a  touch,  not  (1'  angi'v.  but  (jf  iilayi'ul  scorn; 
whereas  with  Felix  >.he   liuu  ahva}  :■  ..  Ma!>e  of  de[ieijdence  and 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  417 

possible  illumination.  In  those  large,  grave,  candid  gray  eyes 
of  liis,  love  seemed  something  that  belonged  to  the  high  en- 
thusiasm of  life,  such  as  might  now  be  forever  shut  out  from 
her. 

All  the  same,  her  vanity  winced  at  the  idea  that  Harold 
should  discern  what,  from  his  point  of  vnnv,  would  seem  likt.' 
a  degradation  of  her  taste  and  relinement.  She  coidd  not  hel[i 
being  gratiiied  by  all  the  manifestations  from  those  around 
lier  that  she  was  thought  thoroughly  lifted  for  a  high  position 
—  could  not  help  enjoying,  with  more  or  less  keenness,  a 
rehearsal  of  that  demeanor  amongst  luxuries  and  dignities 
which  had  oi'ten  been  a  part  of  her  dLiy-dreams,  and  the  re- 
hearsal included  the  reception  of  more  and  more  emphatic 
attentions  from  Harold,  and  of  an  elfusiveness  in  his  manners, 
winch,  in  [)ro])ortion  as  it  would  have  Ijcen  offensive  if  it  had 
appeared  eai'lier,  bc^camc  flattering  as  the  effect  of  a  growing 
acquaintance  and  daily  contact.  It  comes  in  so  many  forms 
in  tills  life  of  ours  —  the  knowledge  that  there  is  something 
swet>test  and  noblest  of  whieh  we  despair,  and  the  sense  of 
soiufthing  present  that  solicits  us  with  an  immediate  and  easy 
indulgence.  Ami  tliiu'e  is  a  ])ernicious  falsity  in  the  pre- 
tence that  a  woman's  love  lies  above  the  range  of  such 
temptations. 

Day  after  day  Esthei  had  an  arm  offered  her,  had  ver/ 
beaming  looks  upon  lier,  had  o])})0rtuniti(^s  for  a  great  deal  o£ 
liu'ht.  airy  tall-;,  in  \vhich  slie  kncAv  herself  to  b(^  charming, 
and  had  the  attrael  ive  inttu-est  of  notieing  Harold's  practical 
clevern(>ss  —  the  masculine  ease  with  wliicli  he  governed 
everybody  and  administered  evei'Vtliing  about  liim,  withoui 
file  least  liarshness,  and  witli  a  iacde  gi  Mul-nature  Avhich  yet 
was  not  we.ik  In  the  baclvgri  iind.  too,  there  was  tiie  evei'- 
pi-esent  consideration,  tliat  il  1  Iambi  Transome  wished  to 
marry  lier.  and  sIk^  acce[ited  him.  t  lie  proldem  of  her  h-;  would 
be  more  easily  solved  than  iii  any  nther  way.  It  was  ililHiailt 
by  any  tlicm-y  of  I'rovidence.  di-  eiiu.^ideration  of  results,  to 
see  a  eour.-i'  whicli  slu'  ct add  call  duty  ;  if  somethiuL;- would 
come  and  ur-'c  itselL'  strongly  as  pleasure,  and  save  Jni'  tVom 
tie-  .  '[''■-t  to  Iind  a  clev."  oi  }';i;aapie  amid  the  laljyrinthine 
V'  I.   Ill-  21 


418  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  llADICAL. 

confusions  of  right  and  possession,  the  promise  could  not  but 
seem  aDuring.  And  yet,  this  life  at  Transome  Court  was  not 
tlie  life  of  her  day-dreams :  there  was  dulness  already  in  its 
ease,  and  in  the  absence  of  higli  demand  ;  and  there  was  a 
vague  consciousness  that  the  love  of  this  not  unfaseinating 
man  wlio  hovered  about  her  gave  an  air  of  moral  mediocrity 
to  all  lior  prospects.  She  would  not  have  been  able  perha})3 
to  deiine  this  impression  ;  but  somehow  or  other  by  this  eleva- 
tion of  fortune  it  seemed  that  the  higher  ambition  which  had 
begun  to  spring  in  her  was  forever  mdlified.  All  life  seemed 
cheapened  ;  as  it  might  seem  to  a  young  student  who,  having 
believed  that  to  gain  a  certain  degree  he  must  write  a  thesis 
in  which  he  would  bring  his  powers  to  bear  with  memorable 
effect,  suddenly  ascertained  that  no  thesis  Avas  ex})eeted,  but 
the  sum  (in  English  money)  of  tweutj'-seven  pounds  ten  shil- 
lings and  sixpence. 

Alter  all,  she  was  a  woman,  and  could  not  make  lier  own 
l(jt.  As  she  had  once  said  to  Felix,  '■'  A  wonum  ituist  choose 
meaner  things,  because  oid}'  meaner  things  are  offered  to  her." 
Her  lot  is  made  for  lier  ])y  the  love  she  acce[)ts.  And  Esther 
began  to  thiidv  that  her  ]t)t  was  being  niaiU;  for  her  b}'  the 
love  that  was  surrounding  her  with  the  inlluence  of  a  garden 
on  a  summer  morning. 

Harold,  on  his  side,  was  conscious  that  the  interest  of  his 
wo(jing  was  not  standing  still,  lie  was  lieginning  to  lliink  it 
a  eoncpiest,  in  v/hich  it  v>-()uld  be  disa})point  iug  to  fail,  even  if 
this  lair  nymph  liad  no  elaim  to  the  estate.  He  would  havg 
liked  —  and  yet  he  would  not  have  liked —that  just  a  slight 
shadow  of  doubt  as  to  his  success  should  be  removed.  There 
was  something  about  Iv-tlu'r  that,  he  did  not  altogether  under- 
stand. She  was  (deavly  a,  woman  that  could  be  governed  ;  she 
was  too  charming  for  him  to  fear  th.at  she  would  t^ver  be  obsti- 
nate oi-  intei'l'ering.  \vt  there,  was  a  lightning  that  shot  out 
of  lier  now  and  then,  winch  seemed  tlie  sign  of  a  dangi'rous 
ju<l'i:nu'nt ;  as  it  she  iuAvardly  saw  something  more  admirable 
than  Harold  Trans(i]ne.  Xow,  to  be  pind'ectly  charming,  a 
woman  should  not  see  this. 

Ojie  line  February  day.  when  already  the  golden  and  pur;ilc 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  419 

crocuses  were  out  on  the  terrace — one  of  those  Hattering  days 
which  souictimes  precede  the  northeast  winds  of  March,  and 
make  believe  that  the  coming  spring  will  be  enjoyable- — a 
very  striking  group,  of  whom  Esther  and  Harold  made  a  part, 
came  out  at  mid-tlay  to  walk  upon  the  gravel  at  Transome 
Court.  They  did  not,  as  usual,  go  towards  the  pleasure- 
grountls  on  the  rastern  side,  because  Mr.  Ling(.)n,  who  was  ens 
of  thrni,  was  going  home,  and  Ids  road  lay  through  the  stone- 
gate  wav  into  the  park. 

Uncle  Lingon,  who  disliked  painful  confidences,  and  pre- 
ferred knowing  '-no  mischief  of  anybody,"  had  not  objected 
to  being  let  into  the  important  S(.'Cr(>t  about  Estlier,  and  was 
sn.re  at  once  that  the  wliole  affair,  instead  of  being  a  misfor- 
tune, was  a  piece  of  exec] lent  luck.  For  himself,  he  did  not 
})ro['ess  to  bt'  a  judge  ot'  women,  but  she  seemed  to  have  all  the 
"  })oints,"  and  to  carry  hcrbclf  as  well  as  Arabella  did,  which 
was  sayin;.^-  a  good  deal.  Honest  Jack  Lingon's  first  impres- 
sions (pi!el>;ly  became  traditions,  wliich  no  subsequent  evidence 
could  di^rurl).  He  was  fond  of  his  sister,  and  seemed  never 
to  be  Cduscious  of  any  change  for  the  worse  in  her  since  their 
early  time.  He  considere*!  lliat  man  a  beast  wJio  said  any- 
thiiu'  unplca-ant  about  the  persons  to  whom  he  was  attached. 
It  was  not  that  lie  winked  ;  his  wii]e-o})en  eyes  saw  nothing 
but  wliat  his  easy  disposition  iiiciined  l,im  to  see.  Harold 
was  a  good  fellow  ;  a  clever  cliap  ;  adid  lilsther  s  peculiar  tit- 
iiess  for  him,  under  all  the  circum-^tances.  v/as  extraordinarv  : 
it  renunded  him  of  something  in  tlie  clas.ic^;.  thongli  he  could 
n"t  thiidv  exaetly  what — in  i'act,  a  menii''-y  wa.s  a  nasty  un- 
easy thing.  I'lsthc!-  was  always  glad  when  the  (dii  Kect-oi- 
eaiiie.  AVith  an  odd  contraiii'ly  to  lier  fornuu-  niceties  she 
liixed  his  rough  attiri'  and  ear(de,-s  fraiik  siieeeh  ;  they  were 
-•oinrj  liing  not  jioint  device  iIi;,!  seemed  to  connect  the  life  nl' 
rran^oiiie  Cuurt;  with  thaJ.  rou-h^'!-,  commoner  world  where 
her  hoaie  h:id   l,een. 

She  and  Harold  were  walking  a  little  in  advanc(^  of  the  rest 
of  th(^  iiarty.  v,d;o  were  rcta.rded  ly  various  causes.  Old  Mr. 
'J'raiu-.om-.  wraoj)ed  in  a  (doth  cloak  trimmed^  with  -■Id",  and 
with  a   so;t  warm  cap  also  trin  aiedl.  with  fur  on  his  nead,  had 


420  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

a  shuffling  uncertain  walk.  Little  Harry  was  dragging  :.  t-jv 
vehicle,  on  the  seat  of  which  he  had  insisted  on  tying  Moro, 
with  a  piece  of  scarlet  drapery  round  him,  making  him  look 
like  a  barbaric  prince  in  a  chariot.  Moro,  having  little  imagi- 
nation, objected  to  this,  and  barked  with  feeble  snappishness 
HS  the  tyrannous  lad  run  forward,  then  whirled  the  chariot 
round,  and  ran  back  to  "  Gappa,''  then  came  to  a  dead  stop, 
wliicli  overset  the  chariot,  that  he  might  watch  Uncle  Lingon's 
water-spaniel  run  for  the  hurled  stick  and  bring  it  in  his 
mouth.  Ximrod  kept  close  to  his  old  master's  legs,  glancing 
with  much  indifference  at  this  youthful  ardor  about  sticks  — 
he  had  *•  gone  througli  all  tluit;"'  and  Dominic  walked  by.  look- 
ing on  lilaiidly.  and  taking  care  both  of  young  and  old.  Mrs. 
Transonii-  was  rvA  tticri^ 

Looking  baclv  and  seeing  that  they  were  a  good  deal  in  ad- 
vance of  the  rest.  K^tJicr  and  Harold  paused. 

'•  Wiiar  d(j  you  think  about  thinning  the  trees  over  there  ?  " 
said  ILirold,  pointing  with  his  stick.  "  I  have  a  bit  of  a  no- 
tion that  if  they  were  divided  into  clumps  so  as  to  show  tht; 
oaks  beyond,  it  would  be  a  great  improvement.  It  would 
give  an  idea  of  extent  that  is  lost  now.  And  there  might  be 
some  very  pretty  clumps  got  out  of  those  mixed  trees.  Wliat 
do  you  tliink  ?" 

"  I  should  think  it  would  be  an  improvement.  One  likes  a 
'  beyond '  every  wliere.  But  I  never  heard  you  express  your- 
self s(j  dubiouiily,"'  said  I'l-^ther,  h.)okiug  at  him  ratlier  archly  : 
•'you  generally  see  things  so  clearly,  and  are  so  convinecd, 
that  1  shall  b;'gin  to  feel  quite  tottering  if  I  find  yrui  in  uneer- 
tainty.     Pray  don't  begin  to  Ijc  doubtful ;  it  is  so  infectious." 

'•You  thiidv  me  a  great  deal  too  sure  —  too  confident'.'"' 
said  Harold. 

"Not  at  all.  It  is  an  immense  advantage  to  know  your  own 
will,  when  yciu  always  mean  to  have  it." 

''But  suijpose  I  could  n"t  get  it,  in  spite  of  meaning  ?  "  said 
Harold,  witli  a  br'aming  iiKpiiry  in  his  eyes. 

"Oh  then,"  said  Esther,  turning  her  head  aside,  carelessly, 
as  if  she  were  consithM'ing  the  distant  birch-stt^ms,  "you  would 
bear  it  ij_uite  easil}',  ub  yuu  did  }our  not  getting  into  Barlia- 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  421 

ment.     You  would  know  you  could  get  it  auotber  time — or 

get  somethiug  else  as  good." 

'•The  lact  is,"'  said  ILuold.  moving  on  a  little,  as  if  he  did 
not  want  to  l)e  quite  oveiLukeu  by  the  others,  ''you  consider 
me  a  fat,  fatuous,  self-satished  fellow." 

"  (_»h,  there  are  degrees,"  said  Esther,  with  a  silvery  laugh  ; 
''you  have  just  as  nuieh  of  those  qualities  as  is  becoming. 
Tliere  are  ditferent  styles.     You  are  })erfect  in  your  own." 

'■  Dut  yen  [)refer  anotlier  style,  I  suspect.  A  more  submis- 
sive, tearlul,  devout  worsliipper,  who  would  offer  his  incense 
with  nuu'e  trembling." 

"  ^'ou  arr  (juite  mistaken."  said  Esther,  still  lightly.  "I 
find  I  am  very  wayward,  ^\"hen  anything  is  offered  to  me,  it 
seems  tliat  I  pi'ize  it  less,  and  (h)n"t  want  t(.(  have  it." 

Here  was  a  very  balking  answer,  but  in  spite  of  it  Harold 
could  not  lielp  b(dieving  that  J'.sther  was  very  far  fi'oni  object- 
ing to  tilt'  sort  of  incnise   he  had  been  offering  just  tlien. 

'•  1  liave  oitt'U  read  that  that  is  in  human  nature,"  she  went 
on,  "'yet  it  takes  m>'  b}'  surprise  in  myself.  1  sujipose,"  she 
added,  sriuluig.  '•  I  did  n"t  tliiulc  of  myself  as  human  nature." 

"I  don't  confess  to  the  same  waywardness,"  said  Harold. 
"I  am  very  iond  fif  things  that  I  can  get.  And  I  never  longed 
nuich  for  anytliing  out  of  my  reach.  Whatever  I  feel  sure 
of  gclTiu';-  1  likt^  all  the  better.  I  think  half  those  priggish 
ma.xim.i  about  human  nature  in  the  lumii  are  no  more  to  bo 
reli(.'(l  on  than  universal  remodies.  Tliere  are  different  sorts 
(d'  human  n;uure.  Some  are  given  to  disconteiit  and  longing, 
others  to  securing  and  enjoying.  And  let  nu'  toll  you,  the  dis- 
contented longing  stylo  is  un|ileasant  to  live  witli." 

Har(^ld  nodded  witli  a  meaning  smile  at  f^.sther. 

"(>li.  I  assure  you  I  have  abjured  all  admiration  for  it,"  she 
said,  sndiiug  u[i  at  him  in  I'etuiai. 

She  w;is  reuieinbei'iu:^'  tlie  seliooling  Felix  liad  given  lier 
afie'ur  lier  r.yi'onie  h(M-of>s,  and  was  inwardly  adding  a  third 
soi't  oi'  liuman  nature  to  tlnoe  varieties  whieh  Harold  laid 
mentioned.  He  naturally  su])])osed  that  he  luighr  take  ilie 
abjuration  to  be  ei\tirely  in  his  oww  favor.  And  ]\\<  face  (ii  1 
'.ook  ver\-  pleasant;  .^he  could  nut  help  liking  him,  although  Jie 


422  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  KADICAL. 

was  certainly  too  particular  about  sauces,  gravies,  and  wines, 
and  had  a  way  of  virtually  measuring  the  value  of  every- 
thing by  the  contribution  it  made  to  his  own  pleasure.  His 
very  good-nature  was  unsympathetic  :  it  never  came  from  any 
thorough  understanding  or  deep  respect  for  what  was  in  the 
mind  of  the  person  he  obliged  or  indulged  ;  it  was  like  his 
kindness  to  his  mother  —  an  arrangemrnt  of  his  for  the  hajiia- 
ness  of  others,  which,  if  they  were  sensible,  ought  to  succeed. 
And  an  inevitable  comparison  which  haunted  her,  showed  her 
the  same  quality  in  his  political  views  :  the  utmost  enjoyment 
of  his  own  advantages  was  the  solvent  that  blended  pride  in 
his  family  and  position,  with  the  adhesion  to  changes  that 
were  to  olditerate  tradition  and  melt  down  enchased  gold  heir- 
looms into  plating  for  the  egg-spoons  of  "the  people."  It  is 
terrible  —  the  keen  bright  eye  of  a  woman  when  it  has  once 
been  turned  with  :idmiration  on  Avhat  is  severely  true  ;  but 
then,  th(!  severely  true  rarely  comes  within  its  range  of  vision. 
E.stlicr  had  had  an  unusual  illumination;  Harold  did  not  know 
how,  but  he  discerned  enougli  of  the  effect  to  make  him  more 
cautious  than  he  had  evvv  been  in  liis  life  befori^.  That  cau- 
tion would  have  prevented  him  ju.^t  then  from  following  u}) 
the  (Question  as  to  the  style  of  ])erson  Esther  would  think 
pleasant  to  live  witli,  even  if  Uncle  Lingon  had  not  joined 
them,  as  he  did,  to  talk  about  sougliing  tiles  ;  saying  presentlj' 
that  he  should  turn  across  the  gra^s  and  get  on  to  the  Home 
Farm,  to  liave  a  look  at  the  improvements  that  Harold  was 
making  witli  such  I'aeing  s]»eed. 

''  JUit  you  know%  lad,"  said  the  Hector,  as  they  paused  at  the 
expected  parting,  •"'.you  can't  do  everything  in  a  hurry.  The 
wheat  must  liave  time  to  grow,  even  wdien  you  've  reformed 
all  us  tild  'I'ories  off  the  face  of  the'  ground.  Dash  it  I  now  the 
election's  (A'er :  I'm  an  old  Tory  again.  You  see,  Haruld,  a 
Kadical  woiTt  do  for  th*^  county.  .\t  anotlier  election,  you 
must  be  on  the  look-out  b)r  a  bocough  where  th<\v  want  a  bit 
of  blood.  [  sliould  have  liked  y(,u  uncommoidy  to  stand  for 
the  county;  and  a  Ifadical  of  good  faiail_y  S(piares  well  enough 
witli  a  new-fashio!U'd  Tory  like  young  Debarry ;  but  you  see, 
t;hpse  riots  —  it  "s  l)een  a  nasty  business.     I  shall  have  my  hair 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   EADICAL.  423 

combed  at  the   sessions  for  a  year  to  come.     But,  heyday ! 
Wliat   dame    is   this,  with  a  small   boy  ?  —  not   one   of   my 

parishionors  ?  " 

Harold  and  Esther  turned,  and  saw  an  elderly  woman  ad- 
vancin,!^  with  a  tiny  red-haii'ed  boy,  scantily  attired  as  to  his 
jacket,  wliich  merged  into  a  small  sparrow-tail  a  little  higher 
than  his  w;;i.st,  l)nt  nniitled  as  to  his  tliroat  with  a  blue  woollen 
comforter.  ICstlier  recognized  the  pair  too  well,  and  f(dt  very 
uncomfortable.  "We  are  so  }»itiably  in  subjection  to  all  sorts 
of  vanity —even  the  very  vanities  we  are  practically  renoun- 
cing! And  in  spite  of  the  almost  solemn  memories  connected 
with  ]\rrs.  Holt,  Esther's  first  shudder  was  raised  by  the  idea 
of  what  things  this  woman  would  say,  and  l)y  the  mortification 
of  having  Felix  in  any  way  represented  by  his  mother. 

As  Mrs.  Holt  advanced  into  closer  observation,  it  became 
more  evident  that  she  was  attired  with  a  view  not  to  charm 
the  eye,  but  rather  to  afflict  it  with  all  that  expression  of  woe 
which  belongs  to  very  rusty  bombazine  and  the  limpest  state 
of  false  hair.  Still,  she  was  not  a  woman  to  lose  the  sense  of 
her  own  value,  or  become  abject  in  her  manners  luider  any 
circumstances  of  depression;  and  slie  had  a  peculiar  sense  on 
the  present  occasion  that  she  was  justly  relying  on  the  force 
of  her  own  character  and  judgment,  in  independence  of  any- 
tliing  tliat  ^li'.  Lyon  or  the  ninsterl'ul  b^dix  \\'()uld  have  said, 
if  she  had  thonglit  them  woi'thy  to  know  of  her  undertaking. 
»She  curtsied  once,  as  if  to  th'>  entir(^  gi'ou]).  now  including 
even  tlie  dogs.  Avho  showed  various  degrees  of  cuidosity,  es- 
])ecianv  as  t<)  what  kind  of  game  the  smalhu-  animal  Job 
might  ]iriive  to  be  after  due  iiivestiu-ation  :  and  then  she  pro- 
ceedaal  at  once  towards  Esther,  wlm.  in  spite  of  her  annoyance, 
took  her  arm  from  Llai'idd's.  said.  '-[low  do  you  do,  Mrs. 
Holt?"   very  kindly,   anil    s:"0]ied   to   ]iat  littl(>   Job. 

"Yes  —  Villi  know  him.  .Miss  T,yon.''  said  ^Irs.  Holt  in  that 
tone  whieh  implies  that  the  elln^■ersation  is  intended  fea-  the 
edification  of  the  compau}*  iienirally  ;  -'you  know  tlv  orphin 
child,  as  Felix  brought  home  for  nie  that  am  his  niolher  to 
t::V.^'  eai'e  of.  And  it's  wlial  1  've  done  —  nobody  more  so  — 
though  it 's  trouble  is  my  reward." 


424  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

Esther  had  raised  herself  again,  to  stand  in  helpless  endur- 
ance of  whatever  might  be  coming.  But  by  this  time  young 
Harry,  struck  even  more  than  the  dogs  by  the  appearance  of 
Job  Tudge,  had  come  round  dragging  his  chariot,  and  placed 
himself  close  to  the  pale  child,  vhom  he  exceeded  in  height 
and  Ijreadth,  as  vrell  as  in  depth  of  coloring.  He  looked  into 
Job's  eyes,  peeped  round  at  the  tail  of  his  jacket  and  p'ulled 
it  a  littl",  and  tlien,  taking  off  the  tiny  cloth-cap,  observed 
v.'ith  niucL  interest  the  tight  red  curls  which  had  been  hidden 
underneath  it.  Job  looked  at  his  inspector  with  the  round 
Ijlue  eyes  of  astonishment,  until  Harry,  purel}'  by  way  of  ex- 
periment, took  a  bonbon  from  a  fantastic  wallet  which  hung 
over  his  shoulder,  and  applied  the  test  to  Job's  lips.  The 
result  was  satisfactory  to  both.  Every  one  had  been  watching 
this  small  comedy,  and  when  Job  crunchc-d  the  bonbon  while 
Harry  looked  down  at  him  inquiringly  and  patted  his  back, 
there  was  general  laughter  except  on  the  jjart  of  Mrs.  Holt, 
who  was  shaking  her  head  slowly,  and  slapping  the  back 
of  her  left  hand  with  the  painful  patience  of  a  tragedian 
whose  part  is  in  abeyance  to  an  ill-timed  introduction  of 
tlie   humorous. 

'•'T  hope  Jf)b's  cough  has  lioen  better  lately,"  said  Esther, 
in  more  uncortaiiity  as  to  \\'hat  it  would  be  desirable  to  say 
(iv  do. 

•■  T  dare  say  you  ho];e  so,  Miss  Lyon,"  said  ^Mrs  Holt,  look- 
ing rst  the  distant  landscajie.  "I've  no  reason  to  disbelieve 
bnt  wiiat  you  wish  well  to  the  child,  and  to  Felix,  and  to  iwc. 
T  'rn  sure  nob(;dy  has  any  or'casion  to  wish  me  other waws. 
"i^Iy  cliaraftnr  will  bear  inf[uiry,  and  what  you,  as  are  young. 
floii't  kuov.',  otliors  can  tell  you.  Tliat  was  what  I  said  to 
ray-elf  when  T  made  u])  my  mind  to  come  here  and  see  you, 
nn<l  a.-k  yoii  to  eet  lae  the  freedom  to  sj)eak  to  .Mr.  Transome. 
T  y.'.']'],  v,-];;itcvcr  yiiss  Lyon  may  be  now,  in  the  way  of  being 
liflad  u})  among  great  peojile,  she's  our  ininister's  daughtei-, 
ami  Avas  not  ab'iV  eraiiing  to  uiy  house  and  walking  with  niv 
srn  V'Mx  —  tli(iu'_'l!  I'll  not  deny  li(3  made  that  figure  on  the 
Leril's  "D.ay,  tlmt  '11  jn'rhajis  go  against  him  with  the  judge, 
if  an\-b'jdv  thinks  well  to  tell  him." 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  425 

Here  INfrs.  PTolt  paused  a  moment,  as  with  a  mind  arrested 
by  tlie  })aiiil'ul  iuiaye  it  had  called  up. 

Est]i('i'"s  lace  was  glowing,  vrlien  Harold  glanced  at  her ; 
and  seeing  this,  he  was  considerate  enough  to  address  Mrs. 
Holt  inst(!a.d  of  her. 

'•'  Y(ju  are  tlu'n  the  mother  of  the  unfortunate  young  man 
who  is  in  prison  ?  " 

'•  Inileed  1  am,  sir,"  said  ^Mrs.  Ilolt,  feeling  that  she  was 
now  in  dee})  water.  "It's  not  likely  1  should  claim  him  if 
he  wasn't  my  own;  though  it 's  not  by  my , will,  nor  my  ad- 
vice, sir,  that  he  ever  walked;  for  1  gave  him  none  but  good. 
iUit  if  everybody's  son  was  guided  by  their  mothers,  the 
world  "ud  be  different ;  my  son  is  not  worse  than  many  an- 
other woman's  son,  and  that  in  Treby,  whatever  they  may 
say  as  have  n't  got  their  sons  in  prison.  And  as  to  his  giving 
up  the  doctoring,  and  then  stopping  his  father's  medicines, 
I  know  it 's  had  —  that  I  know  —  but  it's  me  has  had  to  suf- 
fer, and  it  "s  me  a  king  and  I'arlianuuit  'ud  consider,  if  they 
meant  to  do  the  right  thing,  and  had  anyljody  to  make  it 
kn(nvn  to  'em.  And  as  for  the  rioting  and  killing  the  con- 
stable—  my  son  said  most  plain  to  me  he  n(na:-r  meant  it,  and 
there  was  Ids  'nit  of  potato-])ie  for  his  dinner  getting  dry  by 
tlie  ti;-e.  the  wiiole  blessed  time  as  1  s;it  and  never  knew  what 
was  coming  on  uie.  And  it's  my  opinion  as  if  great  people 
make  electicjns  to  get  tliemselvcs  into  !';:rliament,  and  there  's 
riot  and  murder  to  do  it,  they  ou-Jit  to  see  as  the  widow  and 
tlie  widow's  son  doesn't  suffer  for  it.  I  well  knoAV  my  duty: 
and  I  read  my  l^il)le;  ;nul  I  know  in  Jude  where  it's  been 
stained  with  tli(^  diied  tuli])-leaves  tliis  many  a  year,  as  you're 
told  not  to  rail  at  your  betters  if  tln'y  was  the  devil  himself; 
nor  will  1;  but  this  I  do  .say,  if  it's  three  ]\rr.  Transomes  in- 
.stea.d  of  (mo  as  is  listening  to  me,  as  there's  them  ought  to  go 
to  the  kiiej;  and  get  him  to  let  ot't  my  son  Felix." 

This  >peeeh,  in  its  chief  ]Kniits.  had  been  deliberately  i-iro- 
pared.  i}.[rs.  TTolt  had  set  her  '^rico  like  a  flint,  to  make  the 
gei.-try  knoN^- tlieir  duty  as  she  knev;  hers:  her  di'fiant  d -''en- 
si  v"  tone  was  du'>  to  the  eon-a-iousness,  not  only  that  she  was 
braving  a  I'owerful  audie:;ee,  i. ut  that  she  was  daring  to  stand 


<26  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

on  the  strong  basis  of  her  own  judgment  in  opposition  to  her 
son's.  Her  ^'I'oposals  had  been  waived  oti"  by  Mr.  L3'on  and 
Felix;  but  she  liad  long  had  the  feminine  eonvietion  that  if 
she  could  "  get  to  speak ''  in  the  right  quarter,  things  might 
be  different.  The  daring  bit  of  impromptu  about  the  three 
^Iv.  Transomes  v."as  immediately  suggested  by  a  movement 
of  old  Mr.  Transome  to  the  foreground  in  a  line  with  Mr. 
Lingon  and  Harold  ;  his  furred  and  unusual  costume  appear- 
ing to  indicate  a  mysterious  dignity  which  she  must  hasten 
to  include  in  l>er  appeal. 

And  there  were  reasons  that  none  could  have  foreseen, 
which  inade  Mrs.  Holt's  remonstrance  immediately  effective. 
While  old  ^Iy.  Transome  stared,  very  much  like  a  waxen 
imago  in  which  the  expression  is  a  failure,  and  the  Eector, 
accustomed  to  female  parishioners  and  complainants,  looked 
on  with  a  smile  in  his  eyes,  Harold  said  at  once,  with  cordial 
kindness  — 

"I  think  you  are  quite  right,  Mrs.  Holt.  And  for  my  part, 
I  am  determined  to  do  my  best  for  your  son,  both  in  the  wit- 
ness-box and  elsewhere.  Take  comfort ;  if  it  is  necessary,  the 
king  shall  be  appealed  to.  And  rely  upon  it,  I  shall  bear  you 
in  mind  as  Felix  Holt's  mother.*' 

Fapid  thoughts  had  convinced  Harold  that  in  this  vfay  he 
was  best  couKuending  himself  to  Esther. 

"  Well,  sir."'  said  IvFrs.  Holt.  v,dio  was  not  going  to  pour 
fortdi  disproportiriuate  thanks,  '"'lam  glad  to  hear  you  spieak 
so  l)econiing;  and  if  you  had  been  the  king  liimself.  I  should 
have  made  free  to  till  you  my  opinion.  For  the  Bible  says, 
th(^  ]vii'g"s  favor  is  towards  a  wise  servant;  and  it's  reasonable 
to  thirdvlie  'd  make  ;dl  the  more  account  of  them  as  have  never 
been  iii  servire.  or  took  wage,  which  T  never  did,  and  never 
thought  of  ]uy  son  doin^' :  and  his  father  left  money,  meaning 
otherways,  so  as  he  mi^ht  liavc  l)ei'n  a  doctor  on  horseback  at 
this  vorv  miuiite.  iiisteail  (  1  rjeing  in  ])rison." 

^- What  I  was  lie  i-i'o-.ilarly  ajiprcnticed  to  a  doctor  ?  "  said 
Mr.  Lingon.  who  liad  n(,t  lindtr^to' )d  tdiis  before. 

"Siv.  hf'  was.  and  most  clerer,  bl-.e  his  father  befo>'y  him, 
only  lie  luruLd  conli'aiv;.-.      Lc*;  as  fo:'  harming  anybody,  "'^'elix 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE    RADICAL.  427 

jjaver  meant  to  harm  anybody  but  himself  and  his  mother, 
which  ho  certainly  did  in  respect  of  his  clothes,  and  taking,'  to 
be  a  low  working  man,  and  stopping  my  living  respectable, 
more  })articular  by  the  pills,  which  had  a  sale,  as  you  may  be 
sure  they  suited  })eople's  insides.  And  what  folks  can  never 
have  b(jxes  enough  of  to  swallow,  I  should  think  you  have  a 
right  to  sell.  And  there's  many  and  many  a  text  for  it,  as 
1  've  t)peucd  on  without  ever  thinking ;  for  if  it 's  true,  '  Ask, 
and  you  sliall  have,'  I  should  tliink  it's  truer  when  you're 
willing  to  pay  for  what  yofi  have." 

This  was  a  little  too  much  for  ]Mr.  Lingon's  gravity ;  he 
exploded,  and  Harold  could  not  help  following  him.  IMrs. 
Plolt  fixed  her  eyes  on  the  distance,  and  slapped  the  back  of 
her  left  hand  again  :  it  might  be  that  this  kind  of  mirth  Avas 
the  })eculiar  ehect  pr(xluced  by  forcible  truth  on  high  and 
worldly  }KM)p]e  who  were  neither  in  the  Independent  nor  the 
Genej'id  Baptist  connection. 

'•I  'm  sure  you  must  be  tired  with  your  long  walk,  and  little 
Job  too,''  said  Esther,  by  way  of  breaking  this  awkward  scene, 
"Aren't  you,  dob?"  she  added,  stooping  to  caress  the  child, 
who  was  timidly  shrinking  from  Harry's  invitation  to  him  to 
pull  the  little  chariot  —  Harry's  view  being  that  Job  would 
make  a  good  horse  for  lum  to  beat,  and  would  run  faster  than 
Gajipa. 

'•It  's  Well  you  can  feel  for  the  orjihin  child,  i\Iiss  T>yon,"  said 
Mrs.  Jlolt.  choosing  an  indirect  answer  rather  than  to  humble 
luM'sell'  by  coid'essing  latiguc  licfore  gentlemen  wlio  seemed  to 
be  takiii'j,'  Iku-  too  liglitly.  '•  I  did  n't  believe  l)ut  what  you'd 
beliave  ]irctty.  as  you  always  diil  to  me.  thongli  evt^ybody 
used  to  say  yon  lield  yourself  Idgli.  ]!ut  1  'm  sure  you  never 
did  to  Felix,  for  you  l.t  li:;ii  sit  iy  you  at  the  Frei^  School 
befori^  all  tli<>  towu,  and  hiia  Avit]i  never  a  Idt  of  stock  roun.d 
liis  nt^ck.  /vud  it  shows  yr.u  -aw  ///'//  in  liim  worth  talcing' 
notice  of; — and  it  is  but  vchr.  if  you  know  mv  words  are 
true,  at-  you  should  -oeak  for  liiiu  to  the  gentlemen." 

••  i  a.ssure  you.  Mrs.  Hob."  said  Harold,  coming  to  the 
rescue  —  "I  assui-e  you  that  enough  has  been  said  to  make 
me  use  my  best  efforts  for  your  sun.     And  ncc.v,  pray,  go  cu 


i28  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

to  the  house  v/ith  the  little  boy  and  take  some  rest  Dominic. 
show  r>Irs.  Holt  the  way,  and  ask  Mrs.  Hickes  to  make  her 
comfortable,  and  see  that  somebody  takes  her  back  to  Treby 
in  the  buggy."' 

"I  will  go  back  with  Mrs.  Holt,"  said  Esther,  making  an 
effort  against  herself. 

"ZSo,  pray,''  said  Harold,  with  that  kind  of  entreaty  which 
is  really  a  decision.  '•  Lot  Mrs.  Holt  liave  time  to  rest.  We 
shall  have  returned,  and  you  can  see  her  before  she  goes.  We 
will  say  good-by  for  the  present,  Mrs,  Holt." 

The  poor  woman  Avas  not  sorry  to  have  the  jirospect  of  rest 
and  food,  es])ecially  for  ■•the  orphin  child,"'  of  whom  she  was 
tenderly  careful.  Like  mar.y  women  who  appear  to  others  to 
]iave  a  masculine  decisiveness  of  tone,  and  to  themselves  to 
have  a  masculine  force  of  mind,  and  who  come  into  severe 
collision  with  sons  arrived  at  the  masterful  stagp.  slie  had  the 
m;iternal  cord  vibrating  strongly  within  her  towards  all  tiny 
children.  And  when  she  saw  Dominic  pick  up  Job  and  hoist 
him  on  his  arm  for  a  little  while,  by  way  of  making  acquaint- 
ance, she  regardt'd  him  with  an  approval  which  she  had  not 
thought  it  possible  to  extend  to  a  foreigner.  Since  Dominie 
w;is  going.  Harry  and  old  ^Ir.  Trnnsome  cliose  t()  follow. 
L'ncle  Liiigon  sliook  hands  and  turufil  off  across  the  grass, 
ami  thus  J^^tll(U■   was  left  alone  Avith   Harold. 

liut  thrrc  was  a  now  consciousness  bi-twom  them.  Harold'? 
quick  pcrccptinn  Avas  least  likrly  to  be  slow  in  scizim:  indica- 
Hons  of  aiiytliiii'4'  that  might  affect  his  positi(^n  with  rt-^uid  to 
f'stln'r.  Some  time  Ijcl'ori',  his  joidousy  had  been  awakened 
to  till'  possibility  that  btd'ore  she  had  known  him  she  had  been 
deeply  iiiii'icsted  ill  some  one  (dse.  Jealousy  (d'  all  sorts  — 
wh-ihri'  li,)-  !iui'  lurtuiie  or  our  love  —  is  ready  at  cfjmljina- 
;ioi;>.  iinl  lilci'ly  even  to  (nUsti'i[)  the  faot.  Auil  Esther's  re- 
newt'd  cniii  iisiitii.  uiiifoil  with  her  silence  about  Felix,  which 
now  lirst  scciiied  n(»tev>-oi'tliy,  and  Avilh  .Mrs.  Holt"s  graphic 
details  as  In  licr  v.-alkiiiL;-  \v\\\i  him  and  lotting  him  sit  l:)y  her 
h.'lure  all  the  tee>\n.  wi-re  '^rounds  \u)t  merely  for  a  suspicion, 
out  lor  a  '■(nicbisien  in  Harold".-  mind.  The  effect  of  this, 
\viuch  lie  at  once  regardedi  a-  a,  disctvory,  was  rather  different 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  429 

from  what  Esther  had  anticipated.  It  seemed  to  him  that 
Felix  was  tlie  least  formidable  person  tliat  he  could  have 
found  out  as  an  object  of  interest  antecede' v  to  himself.  A 
young  workman  who  had  got  himself  thrown  into  prison, 
whatever  recommendations  he  might  have  had  for  a  girl  at  a 
romantic  age  in  the  dreariness  of  Dissenting  society  at  Treby^ 
could  liardly  Ijc  considered  by  Harold  in  the  light  of  a  rival. 
Esther  was  too  clever  and  tasteful  a  woman  to  make  a  ballad 
heroine  of  herself,  by  bestowing  her  beauty  and  her  lands  on 
this  lowly  lover,  liesides,  Harold  cherished  the  belief  that,  at 
the  present  time,  Esther  was  more  wisely  disposed  to  bestow 
these  things  on  another  lover  in  every  way  eligible.  But  in 
two  directions  this  discovery  had  a  determining  effect  on  him ; 
his  curiosity  was  stirred  to  know  exactly  wdiat  the  relation 
with  Felix  liad  been,  and  he  was  solicitous  that  his  behavior 
with  regard  to  this  young  man  should  be  such  as  to  enhance 
his  own  merit  in.  Esther's  eyes.  At  the  same  time  he  was  not 
inclined  to  any  euphemisms  that  would  seem  by  any  possi- 
bility to  bring  Felix  into  the  lists  with  himself. 

Xaturally,  whiMi  they  were  left  alone,  it  was  Harold  who 
spoke  first.  '•'  I  slinuld  think  thcu'c  "s  a  good  deal  of  worth  in 
this  young  fellow  —  this  Holt,  notwithstanding  the  mistakes 
he  has  made.  A  little  queer  and  conceited,  perhajis  ;  but  that 
is  usuall}'  th(^  case  with  men  of  his  class  when  they  are  at  all 
sujMU'ior  to  their  fellows."' 

"Felix  Holt  is  a  highly  cultivated  mnn  :  he  is  not  at  all 
conceited.''  said  Estliei'.  The  different  kinds  of  [)i'ide  witliin 
her  were  coalescing  now.  She  was  aware  tluit  there  had  been 
a  Ijetrayal. 

••'  All  ?"'  siiid  Harold,  not  f|uite  liking  the  tone  of  this  answer. 
'•'This  eccentricity  is  a  sort  of  fanaticism,  then?  —  this  giving 
Uj)  being  a  doctor  on  horseback,  as  the  old  woman  calls  it,  and 
taking  to  —  let  me  see  —  watchmaking,  is  n't  it  ?  '' 

"If  it  is  eccentricity  to  In'  very  much  better  than  other 
men,  he  is  certaiidy  eccentric  :  and  fanatical  too.  if  it  is  fanati- 
(■al  to  renounce  all  small  selti-;]i  motives  for  the  sake  of  a  great 
an^l  unseiri>h.  one.  I  never  l^n■' v  what  nobleness  of  character 
r.'ullv  was  before  I  knew  Felix  liult."' 


430  FELTX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

It  seemed  to  Esther  as  if,  in  the  excitement  of  this  moment, 
her  own  words  were  bringing  her  a  clearer  revelation. 

"  God  bless  me  I "'  said  Harold,  in  a  tone  of  surprised  yet 
thorough  belief,  and  looking  in  Esther's  face.  ''  I  wish  you 
had  talked  to  me  about  this  before." 

Esther  at  that  moment  looked  perfectly  beautiful,  with  an 
expression  which  Harold  had  never  hitherto  seen.  All  the 
confusion  which  had  depended  on  personal  feeling  had  given 
way  before  the  sense  that  she  had  to  speak  the  truth  about 
the  man  Avliom  she  felt  to  be  admirable. 

"1  think  I  didn't  see  the  meaning  of  anything  fine  —  I 
did  n't  even  see  the  value  of  my  f;ither's  character,  until 
I  had  been  taught  a  little  by  hearing  what  Felix  Holt  said, 
and  seeing  that  his  life  was  like  his  words."' 

Harold  looked  and  listened,  and  felt  his  slight  jealousy 
allayed  rather  than  heightened.  ''■  Tliis  is  not  like  love," 
he  said  to  himself,  with  some  satisfaction.  With  all  duo 
regard  to  Harold  Transome,  he  was  one  of  those  men  who 
are  liable  to  make  the  greater  mistakes  about  a  particular 
woman's  feelings,  because  they  pique  themselves  on  a  power 
of  interpretation  derived  from  nundi  experience.  Experience 
is  enlightening,  but  with  a  difference.  Experiments  on  live 
animals  may  go  on  for  a  long  period,  and  yot  tlie  fauna 
on  whicli  tliey  are  made  may  ]>e  limited.  Th(>re  may  be  a 
passion  in  tlie  mind  of  a  woman  whicli  prccii)itates  her,  not 
along  the  ])atli  of  easy  l)eguil('m<'nt.  but  info  a  gi'eat  leap 
aAvay  from  it.  Harold's  cxpciaenc!^  liad  not  tauglit  Jiim  tliis ; 
and  i^stlu'v's  enthusiasm  about  Felix  Holt  did  luit  seem  to  him 
to  l)e  dangerous. 

"  H(! 's  quite  an  a])Ostolic  sort  of  fellow,  then."  was  the  self- 
quieting  answer  he  gavt^  to  iier  last  woi'ds.  ''Hi'  didn't  look 
like  that ;  but  T  had  only  a  short  interview  with  him,  and  I 
was  given  to  understand  that  he  refused  to  set>  me  in  prison. 
I  believe  he's  not  very  well  inclined  towards  me.  But  you 
saw  a  great  deal  of  him,  1  su]ii)ose;  and  your  testimony  to 
any  one  is  enough  for  me,"  s;:id  Hai'old,  lowering  his  voice 
rather  tenderly.  "  ISuw  T  know  what  youi'  opinion  is,  I  shall 
spare  no  effort  on  behalf  of  such  a  young  man.     In  fact,  I  had 


FELTX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  431 

come  to  the  same  resolutiou  before,  but  your  wish  would  make 

ditilcuit  things  easy." 

After  that  energetic  speech  of  Estlier's,  as  often  happens, 
the  tears  had  just  sutl'used  her  eyes.  It  was  nothing  more 
than  might  have  been  expected  in  a  tender-hearted  woman, 

considering  Folix  Holt's  circumstances,  and  the  tears  only 
made  more  lovely  tlie  look  with  which  she  met  Harold's 
whf>n  he  spoke  so  kindly.  She  felt  pleased  with  him  ;  she 
was  op(m  to  the  fallacious  delight  of  being  assured  that  she 
had  j)ower  over  him  to  make  him  do  wh;it  she  liked,  and  quite 
forget  the  riKUiy  impressions  whi(di  had  convinced  her  that 
Jrlarold  had  a  padded  yoke  ready  for  the  neck  of  every  man, 
woman,  and  child  that  depended  on  him. 

After  a  short  silence,  they  were  getting  near  the  stone  gate- 
way, and  Har(dd  said,  with  an  air  of  intimate  consultation  — 

'•  What  could  we  do  for  this  young  man,  supposing  he  were 
l(^t  od'  ?  L  sliall  send  a  letter  with  fifty  [lounds  to  the  old 
woman  to-nuirrow.  I  ought  to  have  done  it  before,  but  it 
really  slippi'd  my  memory,  amongst  the  many  things  that 
have  occu[)ird  me  latoly.  ]!ut  this  young  man  —  what  do  you 
tlunk  would  be  the  best  thing  \v(>  could  do  for  him,  if  he  gets 
at  large  again  ?  He  should  be  put  in  a  position  where  his 
qualities  coubl  l.)e  more  telling/' 

Esther  w:is  recovering  her  liv'-liness  a  little,  and  was  dis^ 
}iosed  to  (Mii'oiiiiigc  it  for  the  sake  of  veiling  other  feelings, 
about  wliicli  sli.'  i'cit.  renewed  ret  ieeuce,  now  that  tlie  over- 
powering inlliienee  oi'  her  enthusiasm  was  oast.  She  was 
rather  wiekeiUy  amused  and  seo.niio  at  llarohrs  ndsconci'p- 
tions  and  ill-plaeed   ini^ntions  ol'  pat  ron. :-_'■('. 

••'  Von  ari'  hopele;,sly  in  ihe  ilai'k."  she  said,  with  n,  light 
Luigh  and  toss  of  hei'  htMih  --Whai  would  you  offer  Felix 
Holt?  a  place  in  the  l^xeise '.'  \i^n  might  as  well  think  of 
offering  it  to  John  the  llaptist.  Ftdix  has  chosen  his  lot.  He 
means  always  to  be  a  ])oor  man." 

"Means'.'  Ves,"  said  Hai<»hh  sliehtly  pirpieil,  "but  what 
a,  man  means  usually  dejiends  on  what  happ-uis.  T  mean  to 
1  -  a  Commoner  ;  but  a  peerage  might  present  itself  under 
::  •       ■^able  circumstances/' 


432  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

''  Oh,  there  is  no  sum  in  proportion  to  be  done  there,"  saicl 
Esther,  again  gayly.  *■  As  you  are  to  a  peerage  so  is  not  Felix 
Holt  to  any  offer  of  advantage  that  you  could  imagine  for 
him." 

"  You  must  think  him  fit  for  any  position  —  the  first  in  the 
Rounty." 

''  No,  I  don't,"  said  Esther,  shaking  her  head  mischievously 
''  I  think  him  too  high  for  it." 

*'  I  see  you  can  be  ardent  in  your  admiration." 

"  YeS;  it  is  my  champagne  ;  you  know  I  don't  like  the  other 
kind." 

"  That  would  be  satisfactory  if  one  were  sure  of  getting 
your  ailmiration,"'  said  Harold,  leading  her  up  to  the  terrace, 
and  amongst  the  crocuses,  from  whence  they  had  a  fine  view 
of  the  park  and  river.  They  stood  still  near  the  east  parapet, 
and  saw  the  dash  of  light  on  the  Avater,  and  the  pencilled 
shadows  of  the  trees  on  the  grassy  lawn. 

"Would  it  do  as  well  to  admire  you,  instead  of  being  worthy 
to  be  admired  ?"  said  Harold,  turning  his  eyes  from  that  land- 
scape to  Esther's  face. 

'•'  It  would  be  a  thing  to  be  put  up  with,"  said  Esther,  smil- 
ing at  him  rather  roguishly.  '■'■  But  you  are  not  in  that  state 
of  self-despair." 

"  Well,  I  am  conscious  of  not  having  those  severe  virtues 
that  3'ou  have  been  praising." 

"  That  is  true.     You  are  cj^uite  in  another  gcvvnP 

"  A  v/oman  "would  not  lind  me  a  tragic  hero." 

"  Oil  no  I  She  must  dress  for  genteel  comedy  —  such  as 
your  uK^thcr  once  described  to  me  —  where  the  most  thrilling 
event  is  the  drawing  of  a  handsome  check." 

"You  arc  a  naughty  fairy,"  said  Harold,  daring  to  press 
E- ther's  liaiirl  a  littii-  more  closel}'  to  ]iim,  and  drawing  her 
dowTi  tlip  castei'ii  stejis  into  the  ])h^a.-^iirr-g]'ound,  as  if  he  wen; 
unwilling  to  give  up  the  coJiversation.  •■  Confess  that  you 
ure  disgusted  with   my   want  of  romance." 

"  1  shall  not  confess  to  being  disgusted.  I  shall  ask  you  to 
confess  that  you  are  not  ;i  romantic  ligure.'" 

"I  am  a  Utile  too  stuut." 


FELIX    HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  433 

"  For  romance  —  yes.     At  least  you  must  find  security  fox 

not  grtting  stouter." 

"  And  1  don't  look  languishing  enough  ?  " 

"  Oh  yes  —  rather  too  inuch  so  —  at  a  fine  cigar." 

'"'And  T  am  not  in  danger  of  committing  suicide  ?" 

"  No  ;  you  are  a  widowfr." 

Tlarold  did  n;)t  reply  immediately  to  this  last  thrust  of 
Esther's.  She  had  uttered  it  with  innocent  tlioughtl(\ssness 
from  the  playful  suggestions  of  the  moment;  but  it  was  a  fact 
iliat  llarohl's  previous  married  life  had  entered  strungh'  into 
her  impressions  about  him.  Tlu;  presence  of  Harry  made  it 
inevitable.  Harold  took  this  allusi(jn  of  Esther's  as  an  indi 
cation  that  his  qiuility  of  widower  was  a  pjoint  tliat  made 
against  him ;  and  after  a  brief  silence  he  said,  in  an  altered, 
more  serious  tone  — 

"  You  don't  su[)pose,  I  hope,  that  any  other  woman  has  ever 
held  the  place  that  you  could  hold  in  my  life  ?  " 

Esther  began  to  tremble  a  little,  as  she  ahvays  did  wh':'-r; 
the  love-talk  betv/Cv  n  them  seemed  getting  serious.  She  only 
gave  the  rather  stundjling  answer,  "How  so  ?" 

"Harry's  mother  had  be;  n  a  slave  —  wns  bought,  in  fact." 

It  w\as  impossible  for  Harold  to  pn^'oneeive  the  effect  this 
had  on  Esther.  His  natiu'al  di--fjualirieation  for  judging  of  a 
girl's  feelings  was  heightened  by  the  bliivling  effect  of  an  ex- 
clusive obji-ct —  winch  w;)s  to  assure  he]'  th-il  her  own  place 
was  peculiiir  and  supieme.  Hiiherto  Ivsllier's  acrpiaintance 
with  Oric'iital  love  was  deri\('d  chielly  from  Uyronic  poems, 
;;iid  this  li;id  not  suillced  to  adjust  her  mind  to  a  new  story, 
v.here  the  Giaour  c(jnc(u-ned  was  giving  her  his  arm.  Slie  was 
unable  to  speak  ;  and  Harold  wvut  on  — 

"Though  I  am  close  on  thirty-five,  T  nev(>r  met  with  a 
woman  at  all  like  you  before.  There  ai'c  new  eras  in  one's 
life  that  are  erpaivalent  to  yonth  —  are  souK^thin.g  better  than 
youth.     I  w^is  never  an  ,"is}nrant  till  I  knew  you." 

Esther  was  still  silent. 

"  Xot  that  T  dare  to  call  myself  that,     I  am  not  so  confident 
a  jiersonage  as  you  imagine.     1   am  necessarily  in  a  painful 
posi^^'^'^  ■^— •  -  :>vi-  vrhohio   ^        "  :ding." 
VOL.  in.  28 


4;J4  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

Here  at  last  Harold  had  stirred  the  right  fibre.  Esther's 
generosity  seizcnl  at  once  the  whole  meaning  implied  in  that 
last  sentence.  She  had  a  fine  sensibility  to  the  line  at  which 
flirtation  must  cease  ;  and  she  was  now  pale,  and  shaken  with 
feelings  she  had  not  yet  defined  for  herself. 

''Do  not  let  us  speak  of  difficult  things  any  more  now,"  she 
said,  with  gentle  seriousness.  "I  am  come  into  a  new  world 
of  late,  and  have  to  le;u'u  life  all  over  again.  Let  us  go  in. 
I  must  see  poor  Mrs.  Holt  again,  and  my  little  friend  Job." 

She  paused  at  the  glass  door  that  opened  on  the  terrace, 
and  entered  there,  while  Harold  went  round  to  the  stables. 

When  Esthtjr  had  been  up-stairs  and  descended  again  into 
the  large  mitraiu'e-hall,  she  found  its  stony  spaciousness  made 
lively  by  huiiuui  figures  extremely  unlike  the  statues.  Since 
Harry  intistcil  on  playing  with  Job  again,  ^Nlrs.  Holt  and  her 
orphan,  after  dining,  had  just  been  brought  to  this  delightful 
scene  for  a  game  at  hide-and-seek,  and  for  exhibiting  the 
climl)ing  powers  of  the  two  pet  squirrels.  ]\[rs.  Holt  sat  on 
a  stool,  in  singular  relief  against  the  ])ed<istal  of  the  Apollo, 
while  Dominic  and  Denner  (otherwise  Mrs.  Hickes)  bore  her 
company;  Harry,  in  liis  liright  red  and  pui'jile,  flitted  about 
like  a  great  tropic  bird  after  the  sparrow-tailed  Job,  wlio  hid 
liiiiiself  with  mucli  intelligence  behind  the  scagliola  ])illars  and 
the  })edestals ;  while  one  of  tlie  squii-rels  pej'chcd  itself  on  the 
head  of  the  tallest  statue,  anil  the  otlier  was  alread}'  peeping 
down  from  ani'iug  tlie,  li'vavy  stuccoed  angels  on  tlie  ceiling, 
U'-ar  tlie  summit  of  a  pillar. 

M)s.  Ifolt  lield  on  her  lap  a  basket  filled  with  good  things 
foi-  J(;b.  and  seemed  mucli  soothed  by  ))leasant  company  and 
excellent  treatment.  As  I'^stlier,  descending  softly  and  un- 
obsei'ved,  le;iiied  over  tlie  stone  bannistei's  and  looked  at  the 
scene  foi'  a  minute  or  two,  sue  saw  that  Mi-s.  Holt's  attention, 
having  been  diiceted  to  the  squiiand  wliich  Iiad  scampered  on 
t(j  the  head  ()[  tlie  Sileuus  eari'ving  th(^  infant  Bacchus,  had 
hcon  drawn  dowuwaid  to  the  tiny  babe  looked  at  wdtli  so 
much  affection  by  tlu;  ratlier  ugly  and  hairy  gentleman,  of 
whom  she  nevertheless  sj)oke  with  rt^serve-  as  of  one  who 
^.    'siijly  belonged  to   the  Transome   family. 


FELIX   TIOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  435 

"  It 's  most  pretty  to  see  its  little  limbs,  and  the  gentleman 
iiolding  it.  I  should  think  he  was  amiable  by  his  look;  but 
it  was  odd  he  shordd  have  his  likeness  took  without  any 
clothes.  Was  he  Transome  by  name  ? "  (Mrs.  Holt  sus- 
pected that  there  might  be  a  mild  madness  in  the  family.) 

Denner,  peerin!.T  and  smiling  quietly,  Avas  about  to  reply, 
when  she  w;is  preventer!  by  tlie  appearance  of  old  Mr.  Tran- 
some, who  since  his  walk  had  been  having  ''forty  winks"  on 
tlie  sofa  in  the  library,  and  now  came  out  to  look  for  Harry. 
He  had  doffed  his  fur  cap  and  cloak,  but  in  lying  down  to 
sleep  he  had  thrown  over  his  shoulders  a  soft  Oriental  scarf 
Avhich  Hart)ld  had  given  him,  and  tlds  still  hung  over  his 
scanty  white  hair  and  down  to  his  knees,  held  fast  by  his 
wooden-looking  arms  and  laxly  clasped  hands,  which  fell  iu 
front  of  him. 

This  singular  appearance  of  an  undoubted  Transome  fitted 
exactly  into  ^Irs.  Holt's  thought  at  the  moment.  It  la}"  in  the 
probabilities  of  tilings  tliat  gtuitry's  intellects  should  be  pecul- 
iar :  since  they  had  not  to  get  tlieir  own  living,  the  good  Lord 
might  liav.-  economized  in  their  case  tliat  conimon-sense  which 
others  wt-re  so  much  more  in  need  of ;  and  iu  the  shuffling 
figure  before  her  she  savr  a  descendant  of  tlie  gentleman  who 
had  chosen  to  be  rcjircscntfd  without  Ids  clothes  —  all  the 
more  eccentric,  where  there  wei'c  th(>  m(>aiis  of  buying  the 
best.  JUit  tlicse  oddities  '"'said  nothing"'  in  great  folks, 
who  were  jioweiTul  in  hig1i  (piartcrs  all  tlie  same.  And 
Mrs.  Holt  rosi'  and  cr.rt-<i''d  ^.vith  a  proud  respect,  [irecisely 
as  slie  would  have  done  if  Mi-.  'I'l'aiisonu^  had  looked  as  wise  ;ts 
Lord  r)url'igh. 

'•T  ]i()])c  I'm  in  no  way  taking  a  liberty,  sir,"' she  began, 
while  tlie  old  gentleman  looked  ,it  her  with  bland  feebleness; 
"I'm  not  lliat  woiiian  to  sit  ;iny\\]ie!-e  out  of  my  own  home 
witlaait  inviting  and  pressing  too.  lait  T  was  brought  here 
to  wait,  because  the  little  genthnnan  wanted  to  play  with  the 
orphin  child."' 

'•Very  glad,  my  good  woman — sit  down  —  sit  down."  said 
iMr.  Transome.  nodding  and  si.dling  between  his  clausea 
'•Xice   little  boy.      Your  graudcliihl?  " 


i86  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

"  Indeed,  sir,  no,"  said  Mrs.  Holt,  continuing  to  stand. 
Quite  apart  from  any  awe  of  Mr.  Transome  —  sitting  down, 
she  felt,  would  be  a  too  great  familiarity  with  her  own  pa- 
thetic importance  on  this  extra  and  unlooked-for  occasion. 
'•'It's  not  me  has  any  grandchild,  nor  ever  shall  have,  though 
most  fit.  But  with  my  only  son  saying  he  '11  never  be  married, 
and  in  prison  besides,  and  some  saying  he'll  be  transported, 
you  may  see  yourself  —  though  a  gentleman  —  as  there  isn't 
much  chance  of  my  having  grandchildren  of  my  own.  And 
this  is  old  Master  Tudge's  grandchild,  as  my  own  Felix  took 
to  for  pity  because  he  was  sickly  and  clemnr'd,  and  I  was  no- 
ways against  it,  being  of  a  tender  heart.  For  I  'm  a  widow 
myself,  and  my  son  Felix,  though  Ijig,  is  fatherless,  and  I 
know  my  duty  in  consequence.  And  it's  to  be  wished,  sir,  as 
others  should  know  it  as  are  more  in  power  and  live  in  great 
houses,  and  can  ride  in  a  carriage  where  they  will.  And  if 
you  're  the  gentleman  as  is  the  head  of  everything  —  and  it's 
not  to  be  thought  you  'd  give  up  to  your  son  as  a  poor  widow  's 
been  forced  to  do  —  it  Ijehoves  you  to  take  the  part  of  them  as 
are  deserving  ;  for  the  Bible  says,  gray  hairs  should  speak." 

"  Yes,  yes  —  poor  woman  —  what  shall  I  say  ?  "  said  old 
]\rr.  Transome,  feeling  himself  scolded,  and  as  usual  desirous 
of  mollifying  displeasure. 

''  Sir,  T  can  tell  \o\\  what  to  say  fast  enough ;  for  it 's  what 
I  should  say  myself  if  I  could  get  to  speak  to  the  king.  For 
I've  asked  them  that  know,  and  they  say  it's  the  truth  both 
f.ut  of  the  BjiljL?  and  in,  as  the  king  can  pardon  anything  and 
aiubody.  And  judging  by  his  countenance  on  the  new  signs, 
and  the  tallv  there  was  a  wliile  ago  about  his  Ijeing  the  people's 
friend,  as  the  minister  once  said  it  from  the  very  })ulpit  —  if 
there  's  any  nifaning  in  wonls,  lie  '11  do  the  right  thing  by  me 
and  my  son,  if  lie  's  asked  proper." 

"Yes  —  a  very  good  man  —  lie '11  do  anything  right,"  said 
]\rr.  Transome,  whose  own  ideas  abr^ut  the  king  just  then  were 
somewhat  misty,  consisting  chiefly  in  Ijroken  reminiscences 
of  George  the  Tliird.  "I'll  ask  him  anything  you  like,"  he 
added,  with  a  pressing  desire  to  satisfy  Mrs.  licit,  who  alarmed 
him  slight  :v. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  437 

"Then,  sir,  if  you  "11  go  in  your  carriage  and  say,  This  young 
man,  Felix  Holt  by  name,  as  his  father  was  known  the  country 
round,  and  his  mother  most  respectable  —  lie  never  meant 
liarm  to  anybody,  and  so  far  from  bloody  murder  and  lighting, 
would  part  with  his  victual  to  them  that  needed  it  more  — 
and  if  you  'd  get  other  gentlemen  to  say  the  sanu^,  and  if 
they're  not  satisfied  to  inquire  —  I'll  not  believe  but  what 
the  king  'ud  let  my  scni  out  of  prison.  Or  ii'  it 's  true  he  must 
stand  his  trial,  the  king  "ud  tak(!  care  no  mischief  happened  to 
liim.  I  've  got  my  senses,  and  I  "11  never  l)eli(>vc  as  in  a  coun- 
try where  there  's  a  Clod  al>ove  and  a  king  below,  the  right 
thing  can't  be  done  if  great  people  was  willing  to  do  it.'' 

Mrs.  Holt,  like  all  orators,  had  waxed  louder  and  more  ener- 
getic, ceasing  to  propel  her  arguments,  and  l)eing  propelled  by 
them.  I'oor  old  ~Slv.  Transomt',  getting  more  and  more  fright- 
ened at  this  scverr-spokcu  woman,  who  had  the  hori'ible  pos- 
sibility to  his  mind  of  being  a  novelty  that  was  to  Ix'come 
permanent,  seemed  \o  be  fascinateil  by  b^ar,  aud  stixxl  lii'lp- 
lessly  forg''tl'ul  that  if  he  liked  he  nught  turn  round  and  walk 
away. 

Little  Harry,  ;ilive  to  anything  that  li;id  relation  to  ■■'•  Trajipa,'' 
had  paused  in  bis  game,  and,  disefiiiing  Avhat  he  tlaiught  a 
hostilt^  as})eet  in  this  naughty  black  old  wiuaan,  rushed  to- 
wards her  and  proeeedt^d  lii'st  to  brat  her  with  his  mimic 
jockey's  whip,  and  then,  suspecting  that  her  liondiazine  was 
n.'t  stMisitivc.  to  set  his  tcctli  in  her  arm.  While  Dominic 
rebu.ke;!  him  and  ])ulled  him  off,  Niiurod  began  to  bark  anx- 
iously, and  the  se-'ue  was  becona^  alarming  even  to  the 
squirrels,   winch    scrambled   ;is    bir  off   as   pK)ssible. 

Estlici'.  wh(^  had  been  waiting  tor  an  o})portuuity  of  infer- 
veutioii.  now  came  \i\)  to  Mis.  Hnlf.  to  s])ealv  some  soothing 
words;  aud  oM  Mr.  'l'r;iiisoiii.-,  -eeiii;^-  a  >uti'ieient  sci'eeii  be- 
tween himseir  ami  his  birinidable  >ui)pliant,  at  last  gatliei'cd 
courage  to  turn  round  aud  --huiUe  away  with  umisual  swiftness 
into  tin-  library. 

•'Dear  Mrs.  Holt."'  said  Esther,  ••  do  rest  comfoited.  las- 
sure  you.  yixi  have  done  the  uiuiosr  that  can  be  ih'-'.v  by  ynnr 
'vords,      Yuur   visit   has   not  been   tlirown  awav.     >>ee  how  the 


438  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

children  have  enjoyed  it !  I  saw  little  Job  actually  laughing. 
I  think  I  never  saw  him  do  more  than  smile  before."  Then 
turning  round  to  Dominic,  she  said,  "  Will  the  buggy  come 
round  to  this  door  ?  " 

This  hint  was  sufficient.  Dominic  went  to  see  if  the  vehicle 
■was  ready,  and  Denner,  remarking  that  Mrs.  Holt  would  like 
to  mount  it  in  the  inner  court,  invited  her  to  go  back  into  the 
housekeeper's  room.  I'ut  there  was  a  fi'esh  resistance  raised 
in  Harry  by  the  threatened  (lei)arture  of  Job,  who  had  seemed 
an  invaluable  addition  to  the  menagerie  of  tamed  creatures ; 
and  it  was  barely  in  time  that  Esther  had  the  relief  of  seeing 
the  entrance-hall  cleared  so  as  to  prevent  any  further  encoun- 
t;n'  of  JMi's.  Holt  Avith  Harold,  who  was  now  coming  up  the 
flii^ht  of  steps  at  the  entrance. 


CHAI'TER   XLIV. 

I  'ill  pick  at  lieart.     The  oyo.  of  day, 
The  insistent  suiuiiier  noon,  seems  ]iitilesa, 
Shiuinu:  in  all  ihe  harreu  ci'e\i<-es 
Of  weary  lil'i',  li';nin<i'  nu  shaile,  no  dark, 
Where  1  may  dream  that  hidden  waters  lie. 

SiTOUTLV  after  ^Irs.  Holt's  striking  ])resoiitation  of  lierself 
at  Transniiie  Couil.  I'^sther  went  en  a.  second  visit  to  her 
fathoT'.  Tlie  Loami'ord  Assizes  were  anjiroaeliing ;  it  was  ex- 
})ectcd  lliat  in  aliout  leu  days  I'elix  I  bdl's  trial  would  come 
on,  and  some  hints  in  hei'  I'atlier's  letters  liad  given  Estlier  the 
impression  tliat  he  was  tal<in'.r  a  melancholy  view  of  the  result. 
Hai'old  Ti'anseinio  had  onee  or  twice  mentioned  the  subject 
Avith  a  i'acile  h(»])efulncss  as  to  '■  the  yotmg  fellow 's  coming 
oiT  easilv,"  whieli.  in  Iht  atixions  mind,  was  not  a  cotmterjioise 
to  disquieting  sugucstions.  and  she  ]ia<l  not  chosen  to  introduce 
another  conversation  ai)ou!,  Felix  llolt.  by  (juestioning  Harold 
(•■oncerning  the  jjrulialdlities  he  relied  on.  Since  those  mo- 
ments on  the   terrace,  Harold  hud  daily  l>ecome  more  of  the 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  439 

solicitous  and  indirectly  bcseecliin<::  lnvtn';  and  Esther,  from 
the  very  fact  that  she  was  weighed  on  by  thoughts  that  were 
painfully  bewildering  to  her  —  by  thoughts  which,  in  their 
newness  to  her  young  mind,  seemed  to  shaku  her  belief  that 
life  could  bo  anything  else  than  a  compromise  with  things 
repugnant  to  the  moral  fast;' — had  become  more  passive  t(j 
his  attentions  at  the  very  time  that  she  had  begun  to  feel 
more  probjundly  that  in  accepting  Harold  Transome  she  left 
the  high  mountain  air,  the  passionate  serenity  of  perfect  love 
forever  Ix'hind  her,  and  must  adjust  her  wishes  to  a  life  fd' 
middling  delights,  overhung  with  the  languorous  haziness  of 
motiveless  case,  where  poetry  was  only  literature,  and  the  tine 
ideas  had  to  be  taken  down  from  the  shelves  of  the  library 
when  h(u-  husliand's  back  was  turned.  But  it  seemed  as  if  all 
outward  conditions  concurred,  along  with  her  generous  sym- 
jxitliy  for  the  Transdines.  and  with  thos(^  native  tendencies 
against  wliidi  slu^  had  once  b(\L;ini  to  struggle,  to  make  this 
luiildliug  lilt  the  best  she  could  attain  to.  She  was  in  this 
half-sad  hall-.-iatislii'd  rcsigiuUiiju  to  somedhiug  like  what  is 
called  worldly  A\isdo!ii.  when  she  went  to  see  her  father,  and 
learn  Avhat  slu'  could  from  liini  about  belix. 

The  little  minister  was  miieh  deprt^ssed,  unable  to  resign 
himself  to  tile  dread  wlueh  ]i;id  begun  to  liaunt  him.  tliat  f'elix 
might  have  to  endure  the  oiboiis  ueuaby  (d'  t  i'ans])oi'tation  for 
tin  uianslauglitei'.  wliieh  wa-;  the  onViuM'  that  no  eA'idence  in 
his  fa\'or  coidi !  disprove. 

'•  i  li'id  lieeii  encouiMged  by  the  assurances  of  men  insli'ucted 
in  tills  regard."  said  Mr.  Lyon,  wiiile  Ivsther  sat  on  the  stool 
ni'ar  him.  and  listened  anxiously,  '-that  though  he  were  juxi- 
nouuced  iruilty  in  regard  to  this  Ui'rA  wliereinto  lie  hath  ealami- 
toiisly  fallen,  yet  that  a  jud<_;- '  iniMly  disposed,  and  with  a. 
due  sense  of  that  invisible  ae;i\-iiy  of  tlie  soul  whei'el)\'  the 
deeds  which  a.re  the  same  in  i  ntward  a]ipearaneo  and  effect, 
yet  dilfer  as  the  knife-stroke  of  ihr  surgeon,  even  tlmm^li  it 
kill,  diffei's  from  the  knife-st  i-okr  ol  a  wanton  mutilator,  might 
u^e  liis  diseretiou  in  teniperi  m>_,'  the  punishment.  S(i  tliat  it 
Avould  not  be  very  evil  to  bear.  i'>ut  now  it  is  said  that  tlie 
judge   who    Cometh   is  a  severe    man.    and    one    nourishing    a 


440  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

pi'ejuuice  against  the  bolder  spirits  who  stand  not  in  the  old 
paths." 

"  I  am  going  to  be  present  at  the  trial,  father,"  said  Esther, 
who  was  preparing  the  way  to  express  a  wish,  which  she  was 
timid  about  even  with  her  father.  '•  I  mentioned  to  Mrs. 
Transome  that  I  should  like  to  do  so,  and  she  said  that  she 
used  in  old  days  always  to  attend  the  assizes,  and  that  she 
would  take  me.     You  will  be  there,  father  ?  " 

"Assuredly  I  shall  be  there,  having  been  summoned  to  bear 
witness  to  Felix's  character,  and  to  his  having  uttered  remon. 
strances  and  warnings  long  beforehand  whereby  he  proved 
himself  an  enemy  to  riot.  In  our  ears,  ^^dlo  know  him,  it 
sounds  strangely  that  aught  else  should  be  credible ;  but  he 
hath  few  to  speak  for  him,  though  I  trust  that  Mr.  Harold 
Transome's  testimony  will  go  far,  if,  as  you  say,  he  is  disposed 
to  set  aside  all  minor  regards,  and  not  to  speak  the  truth 
grudgingly  and  reluctantly.  For  the  very  truth  hath  a  color 
from  the  disposition  of  the  utterer." 

'■  He  is  kind ;  he  is  capable  of  being  generous,"  said  Esther. 

'^  It  is  well,  i'or  I  verily  believe  that  evil-minded  men  have 
been  at  work  against  Felix.  The  '  Duffield  Watchman'  hath 
written  continually  m  allusion  to  him  as  one  of  those  mis- 
cliievous  men  who  seek  to  elevate  themselves  through  the 
dishonor  of  their  party  ;  and  as  one  of  those  who  go  not  heart 
rind  soul  with  the  needs  of  the  people,  but  seek  only  to  get  a 
hparii]g  for  themselvijs  by  raising  their  voices  in  crotchet}-  dis- 
cord. It  is  these  things  that  cause  me  lienvinoss  of  spirit :  the 
lark  secret  of  this  yiung  man's  lot  is  a  cross  I  carr}-  daily." 

'•  Father,"  said  Fsther,  timidly,  while  the  eyes  of  both  v\-ere 
filling  with  tears,  '•'  I  sliould  like  to  see  him  again  Viefore  his 
trial.     .Might  I  ?     Will  you  ask  liim  ?     Will  you  take  me  ?  " 

Tlie  minister  raised  his  suffused  eyes  to  hers,  and  did  not 
sjieak  for  a  mcuaent  or  two,  A  new  tliought  had  visited  him. 
]!ut  liis  delicate  tendei'uess  shrank  even  freim  an  inward  in- 
quiry that  was  too  curious  —  that  seenu^d  like  an  effort  to  peep 
at  sacred  secrets. 

•'I  see  nought  against  it.  my  dear  cliild.  if  you  arrived  early 
enough,  and  would  take  the  >4derlv  ladv  into  vour  coniideuce. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  441 

so  that  you  niiylit  desccMul  from  the  carriage  at  some  suitable 
phice  —  the  house  oi'  tlie  iudependent  minister,  for  example  — 
where  1  could  uieet  and  accompany  you.  I  would  forewarn 
Felix,  who  would  doubtless  delight  to  see  your  face  again  ;  see- 
ing that  he  may  go  awa}',  and  be,  as  it  were,  buried  from  you, 
even  though  it  may  be  only  in  prison,  and  not  —  " 

This  was  too  much  for  Esther.  She  threw  her  arms  round 
her  father's  neck  and  sobbed  like  a  child.  It  was  an  unspeak- 
able relief  to  her  after  all  the  pent-up  stiiiing  experience,  all 
the  inward  incommunicable  debate  of  the  last  few  weeks. 
The  old  man  was  deeply  moved  too,  and  ludd  his  arm  close 
round  the  dear  child,  praying  silently. 

No  word  was  spoken  i'or  some  minutes,  till  Esther  raised 
lierself,  dried  her  eyes,  and  with  an  action  that  seemed  playful, 
though  there  was  no  smile  on  her  face,  pressed  her  handker- 
chief against  her  father's  cheeks.  Then,  when  she  had  put 
her  hand  in  his,  be  said,  solemnly  — • 

''  'T  is  a  great  and  mysterious  gift,  tliis  clinging  of  the  heart, 
my  Esther,  whereby  it  luith  often  seemed  to  me  that  even  in 
tlie  very  momuut  of  sulfering  our  souls  have  the  keenest  fore- 
taste of  heaven.  I  speak  not  lightly,  but  as  one  who  hath 
endured.  And 't  is  a  strange  truth  that  only  in  the  agony  of 
jjarting  we  look  into  the  depths  of  love." 

So  the  intervirvr  eiid-'d,  v.-it  liout  any  <piestion  from  Mr.  Lyon 
concendng  what  Esther  coiiti'ni]:l;d:ed  as  the  ulriuKite  arrange- 
ment betA\'etMi  herself  and  the  Ti-msonies. 

After  this  con\'ersation.  ^\']li(■h  >howed  him  that  what  hap- 
pened to  Eelix  touehed  l-'>rhei'  niori'  (dosely  t  h:i  11  he  had  SUp- 
jiosed.  the  miinster  felt  no  ii'ipnlsi^  to  raise  the  iiiniges  of  a 
future  so  uidike  anything  that  Eelix  would  share.  And  EstluT 
woidd  have  beiei  luial,!,.  to  ansv.-ei'  an}'  such  rpiestions.  Th>- 
successive  wei'ks.  instead  of  bi'in  .;-in'4-  her  nearei'  to  clr'aiaiess 
and  decision,  had  only  broin^'lit  that  state  of  disenchant  nient 
l)eloim-in'j,'  to  the  actual  ]a'e~e!ice  of  things  which  ha\'e  long 
dwelt  in  the  ima';ination  v/'.:h  all  the  factitious  charms  of 
ai'bitrary  an'auL^i'nient.  II  v  ;in:i  janao/y  mansion  had  not  been 
inluihi'ed  just  as  'I'rans'inie  ; '•  uri  was;  her  iuKe-rinar}'  fortuu(> 
had    nut    been    a.tteanle.l    v.'ith    cirnimstances   whi'di    she    was 


442  FELIX   HOLT.    THE   RADICAL. 

unable  to  sweep  away.  She  herself,  in  her  Utopia,  had  never 
been  what  slie  was  now  —  a  woman  whose  heart  was  divided 
and  oppressed.  The  first  spontaneous  offering  of  her  woman's 
devotion,  the  first  great  inspiration  of  her  life,  was  a  sort  of 
vanished  ecstasy  which  had  left  its  wounds.  It  seemed  to  her 
a  cruel  misfortune  of  her  young  life  that  her  best  feeling,  her 
most  precious  dependence,  had  been  called  forth  just  where  tlie 
conditions  were  hardest,  and  that  all  the  easy  invitations  of 
circumstance  were  towards  something  which  that  previous  con- 
secration of  her  longing  had  made  a  moral  descent  for  her. 
It  was  cliaracteristic  of  her  that  she  scarcely  at  all  entertained 
the  alternative  of  su('h  a  compromise  as  would  have  given  her 
the  larger  portion  of  the  fortune  to  which  she  had  a  legal 
claim,  and  yet  have  satisfied  her  sym})athy  by  leaving  the 
Transomes  in  possession  of  their  old  home.  Her  domestica- 
tion with  this  family  had  brought  them  into  the  foreground 
of  her  imagination;  the  gradual  wooing  of  Harold  had  acted 
on  her  witli  a  constant  immediate  infiuence  that  predominated 
over  all  indefinite  prospects  ;  and  a  solitary  elevation  to  w(!alth, 
which  out  of  Utopia  she  had  no  notion  how  she  should  num- 
age,  looked  as  chill  and  dreary  as  the  offer  of  dignities  in  an 
unknown  country. 

In  the  ages  since  Adam's  marriage,  it  has  been  good  for 
some  men  to  be  alone,  and  for  some  women  also.  ]>ut  Esther 
was  not  one  of  these  wonuMi  :  slie  was  intensely  of  fhe  femi- 
nine t}])e,  ver^riiig  neitliei-  towards  the  saint  nor  the  angel. 
Sh(!  was  ''a  fair  di\'i(!ed  (Excellence,  wliose  fulness  of  perfec- 
tion "  must  ])('  in  mai'riage.  And,  like  all  youthful  crfiatures, 
she  l'(dt  as  if  tla;  ])i'esent  conditions  of  choice  wer(;  final.  It 
belonged  t(»  the  freshness  of  her  heart  that,  having  had  her 
emotions  strongly  sliia'ed  by  real  oljjects,  slu;  never  sjieeulated 
on  possible  ndations  yet  to  come.  It  seemed  to  her  th.at  she 
stood  at  the  fifst  and  last  ])arting  of  the  ways.  And,  in  one 
sense,  she  Avas  under  no  inusi(jn.  It  is  only  in  that  fresh- 
ness of  our  time  tliat  the  (dioice  is  ]jossiljle  whicli  gives  unity 
to  life,  and  ma,kes  the  memory  a  tem])le  where  all  relics  and 
all  votive  offej'inns,  all  woi'ship  and  all  grateful  joy,  are  au 
unbroken  history  sanctified  by  one  religion. 


h'iuLiX    liUl.l\    IHE    RADICAL..  443 


CHAPTER   XLV. 

We  nuiv  nut  i;i;ikc  this  wurlil  ii  rianidise 
B}'  wr.lkini;-  it  tci'.-otiKT  wiili  cbisped  hands 
Ami  eyes  '. iuit  in'^L-iiny  i'^^d  a  dc'ildu  streugth. 
We  !iui>L  'no  iiiilv'  jiiiiied  hy  jiaiiis  (iiviue, 
<Jl  sijirita  Meut  in  ihutual  lueiuories. 

It  wn,s  a  consenuo:K'o  of  tlutt  iiiterview  Avitli  her  father, 
that  wiu'U  ItlSuhev  stiSi^icnl  (nirly  ou  ii  gray  iSlarcli  morning  into 
the  carrl'.ig;'  ^.viili  ilrs.  Tr:t:i:-;oai'v'.  to  go  to  the  Loanitord  As- 
sizt's,  sli.'  was  i'l;]!  o:'  an  i'xpvictatioa  HKit  liehl  her  lips  in 
trtaubliiig  silcii- •.-,  and  ■^-^iivc  lier  oy(\s  that  sightless  beauty 
wliicli  {-lis  r;:;;t  ;iii>   \"is;;;ii  is  all  V-'itliiu. 

Mrs.  'i'i'iHiS' .!H''  aid  a(!l  discari)  lu>r  with  UTinceessary  speech. 
Of  late,  ]'dtiiii-"s  :!iix-'i,:  .h.-t-rva',  iwii  had  Ix'cii  drawn  to  a 
change  iu  Mrs.  I'raiiM'in.  ,  .-.Imwi;  in  many  small  ways  which 
oiily  wommi  n.^i-ec.  !  1-  ^vas  nia  (inly  that  when  they  sat  to- 
gether the  laJl:  scan;;!  i,/:W  i,;'  an  rlVorl,  to  her:  that  might 
have  C(aa>"'  I'vom  {lie  gi  i.'a.il  ilrain'Mg  as.vay  of  matter  for  dis- 
coarse  pertaining  to  ne-.-l  sovts  of  eomp:,'n;o;ishi],i,  m  which 
repetition  is  n.s.  id';:  :,,  !>;'■  ,is  i;e.-.ii':.Me  a-;  novlly.  I'.id-  while 
All's.  d'ran--aa.'  \v;is  ,lre>>.->!  jusi;  as  n-aad.  teek  her  seat  as 
asnal.  li  ite'il  with  h-a-  era  a;  air!  had  l,er  emhr<adei'y  hel'ort^ 
her  as  n-;;al.  and  .-.aiil  in  ;ii  ■  im"'  ii)(<v]v.  :■:;  ;.;'re"'i  in'^s  wiih  that 
ilnished  ea-\-  enlittsie  .s  ,.a.i  r. in  asia-s  ;(ai  ef  tone  whieh  to 
rongh'S'  pe^):d'  M'iiiis  liie-  a  !';'■'■■' i^  ai.  td  i  i;er  m  d  U'ed  a  strange 
litfulnr-s  ipi  iea-  ai..  i\  (;;;■;, 1;.  a  aiiliiaes  the  stitches  of  her 
emhroiiler;,  v.iail  en  wlili  -ii^a,  iee'Ml;  'ii  swiftness  for  a  qnar- 
ter  cf  an  iie:;;-.  as  i  i'  siic  aae  i  ■  •,'.  -  a  !;  imi!  hm' delivei'am'C  ii'oni 
l)oni|:';j;i-  \)v  iia;  diiaa'  a  --ej'ii;  1  ;  is  a  aaa  I  a  a'd'a- ;  then  her  hands 
tlroniu's  saeii.a  ;\'  aat!  \\rv  '^■,^/.<-  ;'•  d  IdmklyeM  the  table  be- 
for>'  [[•■'■.  aiid  si;  ■  'tvee;!.;  ,di  :>.'.  a  ,  wry  nmliona's,^  as  a  seated 
s'atae.  :;  ;a  .ar'"t  !  y  aaciaisrii 'U-  n'  i'diii.a's  nrfsnua/.  till  some 
tluam'ht   darlin^'    \,  ;i.hiii    her   scem-sa   to   have    tlie   effect   of  an 


444  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

external  shock  and  rouse  her  with  a  start,  when  she  looked 
round  hastily  like  a  person  ashamed  of  having  slept.  Esther, 
touched  with  wondering  pity  at  signs  of  unhappiness  that  were 
new  in  her  experience,  took  the  most  delicate  care  to  appear 
inobservant,  and  only  tried  to  increase  the  gentle  attention 
tliat  might  liclp  to  soothe  or  gratify  this  uneasy  woman.  IJut, 
one  morning,  ]\Irs.  Transonic  had  said,  breaking  rather  a  long 
silence  — 

'•'  My  dear,  I  shall  make  this  house  dull  for  you.  You  sit 
with  me  like  an  embodied  patience.  I  am  unendurable ;  I  am 
getting  into  a  melancholy  dotage.  A  fidgety  old  woman  like 
me  is  as  unpleasant  to  see  as  a  rook  with  its  wing  broken. 
])oM"t  mind  me,  my  dear.  l\un  a^vay  from  me  without  cere- 
mony. Every  one  else  does,  you  see.  1  am  part  of  the  old 
furniture  with  new  drapery."' 

"  Dear  ]Mrs.  Transome,"'  said  Esther,  gliding  to  the  low  otto- 
man close  by  the  basket  of  embroidery,  '•  do  you  dislike  my 
sitting  with  you  ?  " 

'■  r'nly  for  your  own  sake,  my  fairy,"  said  IMrs.  Transome, 
smiling  faintly,  and  putting  her  hand  under  Esther's  chin. 
''Does  n't  it  make  you  shudder  to  look  at  me  ?" 

"Why  will  you  say  sucli  naught}'  things?''  said  Esther, 
affectionately.  '-'If  you  liad  IkuI  a  daughter,  she  would  have 
desired  to  be  witli  you  most  when  you  most  wanted  cheering. 
And  surely  ev.  ry  young  av;  man  ]i;is  soiucthiiig  of  a  daughter's 
fei  ling  towards  ;;n  oldei'  {Hi;'  wlio  has  been  Ivind  to  lier." 

''•I  should  like  you  to  be  I'enlly  my  daughter,"  said  ]\rrs. 
Transome,  rousing  lier.-o]f  to  ioolwa  little  brighter.  "  That  is 
Sumcliiing  still  for  an  ohi  Avomau  to  hope  for." 

E.-^tlicr  i)lushed  :  slie  Inul  not  [oreseen  this  rq^iiHcation  of 
words  that  came  from  pitying  ten^lei'iicss.  To  divert  tlie  tr.iin 
of  thouglit  as  qui;'kly  ;is  possi!)le.  slie  rit  once  asked  \vliat  slie 
had  ])reviously  had  in  her  mind  to  ask.  ]>efore  lior  blush 
had  disapjieared  she  sai'l  — 

'•  (')h,  you  are  so  goo'l  ;  I  shall  ask  you  to  indulge  me  very 
miK-li.  It  IS  to  let  us  set  out  very  early  to  Loamiord  on 
Wi'ilncsday,  anil  \n\l  me  doAvn  at  a  j)articular  house,  that  I 
may  keep  an   (ni-agemt-nt  with  m}'  fatlier.     It  is   a   private 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  445 

matter,  that  I  Avisli  no  one  to  know  about,  if  possible.  And 
he  will  bring  me  back  to  you  wherever  you  appoint." 

In  that  way  Esther  won  her  end  without  needing  to  betray 
it;  and  as  Harold  w^as  already  away  at  Loamford,  she  was 
the  more  secure. 

The  Independent  minister's  house  at  which  she  was  set 
down,  and  where  she  was  received  by  her  father,  w^as  in  a 
quiet  street  not  far  from  the  jail.  Esther  had  thrown  a  dark 
cl(mk  over  the  handsomer  coverings  which  Denner  had  assured 
her  were  absolutely  recpiired  of  ladies  who  sat  anywhere  near 
the  judge  at  a  great  trial;  and  as  the  bonnet  of  that  day  did 
not  throw  the  face  into  high  relief,  but  rather  into  perspec- 
tive, a  veil  drawn  down  gave  her  a  sufticiently  inconspicuous 
appearance. 

'•I  have  arranged  all  things,  my  dear,"  said  Mr.  Lyon,  ''and 
Felix  expects  us.     We  v/ill  lose  no  time." 

They  walked  away  at  once,  Esther  not  asking  a  question. 
She  had  no  consciousness  of  the  road  along  which  they  passed; 
she  could  never  reniember  anything  but  a  dim  sense  of  enter- 
ing within  high  walls  and  going  along  passages,  till  they  were 
ushered  into  a  larger  si)ace  than  she  expected,  and  her  father 
said  — ■ 

'•  It  is  hei'e  that  we  are  })ermittcd  to  see  Eelix,  my  Esther. 
He  will  ])resentlv  a])})ear." 

Esther  autiiiiiatieally  took  off  her  gloves  and  bonnet,  as  if 
she  luul  entei'ed  tli<'  liouse  after  a  walk.  She  had  lost  the 
complete  consciousness  of  everything  except  that  she  was 
going  to  see  l^'elix.  Slu'  ti'eiiilued.  It  seemed  to  her  as  if 
he  too  would  Iodic  altered  ai'ter  her  new  life  —  as  if  even  the 
past  would  ehangi'  for  liei-  and  be  no  longer  a  steadfast  re- 
nuunbiMiiec,  but  something  slie  had  been  mistaken  about,  as 
she  hail  been  about  tlie  new  life.  I'eihaps  she  was  growing 
out  of  that  i-liil(lli(H>d  to  wliieli  cominon  tilings  have  rareness, 
ami  all  objects  look  lai'^'er.  Ti  rlia])s  from  henceforlli  the 
wliole  world  was  to  b"  nican^r  ior  her.  The  di'oad  concen- 
trated in  those  moments  secin'''!  worse  tlian  anN'tliiii'j;  she  had 
known  bci'on".  it  was  w];;:t  t".;,.  ilrcaal  of  the  [lilu'i'na  uiiglit 
be   wl:o    lia>   it   wliisiiered  t^;    him  that  the   liol\-   olaces  are  a 


446  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

delusion,  or  that  he  will  see  them  with  a  soul  unstirred  and 

unbelieving.  Evoiy  minute  that  })as.ses  may  be  charged  Avith 
some  such  crisis  in  the  little  inner  Avorld  ot  man  or  woman. 

But  soon  the  door  o[M'ned  slightly  ;  some  one  looked  in  ; 
then  it  opened  wide,   and    Felix  Holt   entered. 

"  Miss  Lyon  —  Escher  I "'  and  her  hand  was  in  his  grasp. 

He  was  just  tlie  same  —  no,  sometlung  inexpressibly  better, 
because  oi  the  dist;uice  an>l  separation,  and  the  half-weary 
novelties,  wiiich  made  him  iike  ilie  return  of  morning. 

'•Take  nu  hcecl  ol  me,  chiltavn,''  said  Z\Ir.  Lyon.  "I  have 
some  notes  to  laake,  and  my  time  is  }a'ecious.  ^Ve  may  re- 
maiiL  h'Te  o::ly  a  (|u;irter  of  an  hour."'  And  the  old  man  sat 
dovv'^i  at  a  window  with  Iris  back  to  them,  writing  with  his 
head  l)ent  close  to  the  paper. 

'"' ATou  are  ve;y  pale  ;  you  lock  ill,  coinparcd  with  3'our  old 
self,''  said  E-tiier.  She  had  taken  her  hand  away,  but  they 
stood  still  u:  cir  eacli  ether,  slie  lookiiig  up  jit  him. 

''  The  I'a'-t  is,  I  "m  lUn;  ['.)".id  Oi'  prison,'*'  said  Felix,  smiling-, 
"  l)ut  I  suppose  the  best  1  can  liu}ie  for  is  to  have  a  good  deal 
mure  of  it." 

'•It  is  tliouglit  that  in  tlu^  woi-st  c;!se  a  pai-don  may  be  ob- 
tained," said  Lsth(U',  ;!V()iili!ig  llaro'd  Transnm""s  nrano. 

"1  don't  ndy  on  tluit,"'  s;iid  l\-lix.  sli::lviipg  his  head,  ''^ly 
wisest  courst!  is  to  rii:ik<'  n\>  my  unnii  to  the  vei'y  ugliest 
penalty  thr}'  can  ('(arfemii  ii:(_^  to.  [t  }  can  face  that,  any- 
thing less  will  seem  r:;sv.  ]!i;t  yoa  l-;ii(iw.'"  he  went  on.  smil- 
ing at  li"r  i.'righlly,  ■•  ;  never  went  in  for  iiiie  cciini.any  and 
cu.^hiiius.      J  ean't  be'  ve;-y  iieavilv  disa'ppoiihe.l  in  Ihat  wa\'." 

"■  Do  yea  see  ihiii'..';s  j'u.^i,  as  you  u.-.ed  lo  d'l  ".'  "'  said  Ivstlier, 
turnii'g  pal"  as  slie.  said  it  — "  1  aieaii  —  a')out  poverty,  and  the 
jx'oplc  yeu  will  ]i\('  aiiioMg.  n'as  all  liie  inisunderstanding 
and  sa(]nes,,  h-i't  \-ou  ja.-^t   as  obstinate '.' "'      Siie  tried   to  snnh', 

liUt  eonli!   not,  :-Uee"ed. 

"  AMiat  —  Sibeai  llie  sor1:  of  lift'  T  sliouid  lead  if  I  were  free 
.igain  ;'"  said   fV;ix. 

'•  Y'es.  1  can't  iiel|)  being  d,i-i-o-!i-;,--,'d  for  you  by  all  t]i(\se 
thiirrs  that  have  liaie  .aied.  Se-  lai.v  yon  may  fail  !  "  L-ther 
spoivc    timi;lly.      She    .~aw  a   i)ecuiiar    ./luilc,   whi.^h  she    know 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  447 

well,  ,rratlierinp:  in  his  eyes.  "Ah,  I  dare  say  I  am  silly,"  she 
said,  di'preeatingly. 

'' X(i,  you  arc  dreadfully  inspired,''  said  Felix.  '-'When  the 
■\viekctl  Tempter  is  tired  of  snarlinc;-  tiiat  -word  failure  in  a 
mau"s  cell,  he  sends  a  voice  like  a  thrush  to  say  it  for  him. 
See  now  what  a  messen_L^'(~T  of  darkness  you  are  I  "  He  smiled, 
and  took  iier  two  liamls  betAveen  his.  pressed  to.cijetijer  as  chil- 
'.\von  hold  ihrm  ui)  in  prayer.  Both  of  them  felt  too  solemnly 
to  be  bashful.  They  looked  strai.^'iit  into  eaeii  o'';er"3  eyes, 
as  angels  do  when  they  t;'ll  some  truth.  And  they  stood  in 
that  way  while  he  v\'ent  on  siH-akiPig. 

"]5ut  I'm  |)roof  against  that  v.'oi'd  failure.  I've  seen  be- 
hind it.  The  only  failure  a  man  oiiglit  to  fear  is  failure  in^ 
cleaving  to  the  pur})os(^  lu^  sees  to  b{>  b(\st.  As  to  just  the 
ai'iount  ol'  ri'sult  he  may  seo  from  his  pariicular  work  —  that's 
a  treiaeuilous  unci'rtaie.ty :  tlie  un;vc>rs(>  h;;s  not  been  arranged 
for  th'.'  gratiiication  ot  his  f(:rlii\gs.  As  long  as  a  inan  sees 
and  b>,'livV('S  in  some  gi'cat  good,  he  "II  lu'cfer  working  towards 
that  in  tlie  Aviiy  h<^  "s  bi-st  lit  for.  come  what  may.  I  ])ut 
elfeets  at  tlicir  unidmum.  but  T  'd  I'ather  have  the  miniunnn 
of  effect,  if  it's  ni  [\\"  s')rt  I  care  i'i;r.  than  the  maximuui  of 
efT'""'t  I  (ImuT,  cni"^  i'or  —  m,  lof  id'  hi!'>  <]iie.gs  tiiiit  ai'C  ]M~)t  to 
my  tasti' — and  il'  llir'v  w.'U-e.  tht^-  ciMiditi'^as  of  holding  them 
A'.'hili'  the  Avorld  is  wha'i'  it  i-.  ar'C  si;eh  iis  woidd  jar  on  me  like 
grating  nu'tal." 

•'Yr>."'  said  F^tlirM-.  in  a  Ioaa"  t'ei'.  ••  T  1l)i;ik"  T  nndcrstnml 
that  rMV>-.  li;jff"i'  lliiei  i  u-r^l  li.  ild."  Tim'  vi.nis  (.f  l^dix  at 
lest  SvCUii'd  slran^'-'y  lo  lit  iuT  I'-ei  e\;'a-i:'nc;'.  JJut  sIk' 
said  no  iimmt'.  {hnvi^-ii  h^-  s"-m',Ml  to  ■,v;iit  i'<ii'  it  a  nanuent  C)r 
two.   lofikiu'j;  at  la-i'.      i-ni    tii  ai    b."   w-eit  on  — 

'•I  don't  ini'a!!  to  lv>  id  a  a  i;oi;s.  y  ai  l.now.  and  nadn^  a  ncAV 
er;i.  elst^  it  ^^•(^:Ill!  lu'  l<i:ii'.  d!'  vmh  i,i  l;-.'!;,  ;i  vnAaa!  :;n'i  t;-:ii']i 
it,  to  (a'oal-;  '  l':;i]iir>' '  in  n;y  rar,-.  Wiierc  great  tliii-LS  can't 
ha]i])^ai.  r  cav''  foi'  vin-y  sniad  ildn-rs.  such  as  A\'ill  never  be 
kin")\vn  beviaa!  a  I'e'.v  gari'e's  ai'I  AVoi-lvsliups.  And  liaai.  as  to 
one  thin^'  i  Is'aiiA'e  lii.  I  didn't  lideJc  I  can  abog^'tiiei'  fad.  If 
tlie've  's  anythiu'.:  our  ])eo]>l.'  ■./:  nt  eon virieiii::  of.  ir  is.  that 
tiiere  's    some    dignity    and    ii.ippiness    for    a    man    other    thar^ 


448  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

changing  his  station.  That 's  one  of  the  beliefs  I  choose  to 
consecrate  my  life  to.  If  anybody  could  demonstrate  to  me 
that  I  was  a  flat  for  it,  I  should  n't  think  it  would  follow 
that  I  must  borrow  money  to  set  up  genteelly  and  order 
new  clothes.  That  's  not  a  rigorous  consequence  to  my 
understanding." 

They  smiled  at  each  other,  with  the  old  sense  of  amusement 
they  had  so  often  had  together. 

''  You  are  just  the  same/'  said  Esther. 

"And  you?"  said  Felix.  "My  affairs  have  been  settled 
long  ago.  But  yours  —  a  great  change  has  come  in  them  — 
magic  at  work." 

"  Yes,"  said  Esther,  rather  falteringly. 

"  Well,"  said  Felix,  looking  at  her  gravely  again,  "  it 's  a 
case  of  fitness  that  seems  to  give  a  chance  sanction  to  that 
musty  law.  The  first  time  I  saw  you  your  birth  was  an  im- 
mense puzzle  to  me.  However,  the  appropriate  conditions  are 
come  at  last." 

These  words  seemed  cruel  to  Esther.  But  Felix  could  not 
know  all  the  reasons  for  their  seeming  so.  She  could  not 
speak  ;  she  was  turning  cold  and  feeling  her  heart  beat 
painfully. 

"All  your  tastes  are  gratified  now,"  he  went  on  innocently, 
"But  you  ■]]  romeml)er  the  old  pedagoguf^  and  his  lectures  ?  " 

One  thought  in  the  mind  of  Felix  was.  that  Esther  vras  sure 
to  marry  Harold  Ti'ansome.  ]\Ien  readily  believe  tliese  things 
of  tlie  wcjukmi  wlio  love  tln'm.  I'ut  lie  eould  not  allude  to  tlie 
marriacri'  -iiiijre  directly.  He  was  afraid  of  this  destiny  for 
lier,  witlifiut  having  any  very  distinct  knovledge  by  whicli  to 
justify  his  ('car  to  the  mind  of  anotlifr.  It  did  not  satisfy  him 
that  Estlicr  sliould  marry  Harold  Ti'ansoine. 

"' ]\ry  eliildi-rii."  said  ^Iv.  Lyon  at  tliis  moment,  not  looking 
round,  but  only  looking  close  at  liis  Avatdi.  ••■\ve  have  just  two 
minutes  more."     I'hcn  lie  went  on  wi'iting. 

Esther  ilid  not  sjipak.  but  Felix  could  not  help  observing 
now  that  lier  liaiids  liad  turn*''d  to  a  deathly  coldness,  and  that 
she  was  trembling.  He  Ix-lieved.  ht-  knew,  that  wliatf^vor 
prospects  she  had,  this  feeling  was  for  his  sake.      An  over- 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAL.  449 

powering  impulse  from  mingled  love,  gratitude,  and  anxiety, 
urged  him  to  say  — 

"I  had  a  horrible  struggle,  Esther.  But  you  see  I  was 
right.  Thert;  was  a  httiug  lot  in  reserve  for  you.  But  remem- 
ber you  have  cost  a  great  price  —  don't  throw  what  is  precious 
away.  I  shall  want  the  news  that  you  have  aha})})iness  worthy 
of  you."' 

Esther  felt  too  miserable  for  tears  to  come.  She  looked 
helplessly  at  Felix  for  a  moment,  then  took  her  hands  from 
his,  and,  turning  away  mutely,  walked  dreamily  towards  her 
father,  and  said,  "  Father,  I  am  ready  —  there  is  no  more 
to  say."' 

She  turned  back  again,  towards  the  chair  where  her  bonnet 
lay,  with  a  face  quite  corpse-like  above  her  dark  garment. 

"Esther!"' 

She  heard  I^'elix  say  the  vrord,  with  an  entreating  cry,  and 
went  towards  him  with  the  swift  movement  of  a  frightened 
clilld  towards  its  protector.  He  clasped  her,  and  they  kissed 
each  other. 

She  never  could  recall  anything  else  thai  ]ia})pened,  till  she 
was  in  the  carriage  again  with  Mrs.  Transome. 


CIIAPTEB    XBVL 

Wliv.  iluTi'  ari'  iii;iMoii>;  i.f  1ii>ri>i(    tmirli, 
And  \'v\  the}'  >cr\\\  liki-  thiiiL:'^  I'f  u-o<~air.cr 
Yiiu  M  I'incli  tlic  life  (i'.it  'if,  ;i~  Milt  iif  iiMths. 
()h.  ir  i<  t'."t  li'liil  Imp.,  -  :iii'i  iii. 'iitliinLriii'^s, 
"V  i<  ii'ir  th.c  arms  akin,'"  atiil  I'ii'l'.'''  -trii]('<, 
Thar  tnako  a  wnnian '>  ("V'  ■'       'I  k'    tiiiii'>i  lairds, 
With  ~.ifii'-i  ilii\vii\-  M-i':i-:~,  !ia- !•  pa>>i(iu-  in  them, 
An'l  ai'i'  hi-avc  wii  h  k  I'.i 

Estiikt;  was  sn  iilaonl  in  tlu'   ('■'■iv\.  ninler  ^frs.  Traiisome's 
winu'.  as  1i>  ;■-(■•'   and    lir.-r   r\-fi'\  *  hi:i'^^  ^\'ithl  mt   i-iT'iit.        llareld 
had  rectMVcd  ihi'iu  ul  the  hotel,  and    had  obsei'vei]   that   hither 
TO[..   in.  '^'\i 


450  FELIX    HOLT,     lilE    RADICAL. 

looked  ill.  and  was  unusuauy  abstracted  iu  her  manner;  but 
this  seemed  to  be  sutticiently  aeeotinted  for  by  her  sympathetic 
axniety  about  tlie  result  of  a  trial  iu  which  the  prisoner  at  the 
bar  was  a  friend,  and  in  v/liich  bnth  her  fath'n-  and  himself 
were  important  witnesses.  .Mrs.  Ti'ansome  fiad  no  reluctance 
to  keep  a  small  secret  from  iter  son.  and  no  betr;iyal  was  made 
of  that  previous  '•  cng;!e>'mf-nt "' of  Kstlier's  with  her  father. 
Harold  was  particuha-^y  d'dicat^  and  unoiitrusive  in  his  atten- 
tions to-day  :  he  had  the  con.scioiisn.ess  tbat  Ix^  was  going  to 
behave  in  a  vray  that  vroudd  gra-diy  Estlicr  r^nd  v.dn  her  admi- 
ration^ and  v,'e  are  all  ui  us  :nad'^  more  '^-rrir-i'tV.!  by  the  inward 
presence  of  v.'hat  v/e  believe  to  b'-^  a  g'-nr^mus  r"!rp')S''j:  our 
actions  move  to  a  hidden  niu.dc  —  •■  a^  mehdy  tliact's  sweetly 
played  in  tune."' 

If  Esther  had  been  b-'ss  absorb"'';!  lix  supremo  ferdin-rfs.  she 
would  have  b.^eu  awari' tbat  sb-  w;;s  a!i  obj-.-t  of  siii'cial  n^biee. 
In  the  l)are  Sf^uareness  (d  a  pubilic  ball,  wber^^  tbiu'c  wa^;  not 
one  jutting  angle  to  baiig  a  grir\,>  or  a  tbonght  upcin.  Tint  an 
image  or  a  bit  of  cobir  t'l  srir  the  la.uey,  and  vvdn-re.  tloe  only 
objects  of  spe^'^ulati'  n.  of  abiriiration.  or  of  aiiy  indorest  v.dint- 
cver,  were  hunuin  baim;;-'.  ai^l  espfraally  the  humnu  brinijs 
that  oecu|}iod  j)''isitio:is  inba'atiu'^  S');a  >  inM)orr;;nci\  rlie  m.tice 
bestowed  on  Ib'^tbr-r  vri'id'l  la-t  liav''  bi'cn  sin'p'asin-,'-.  cvi'u  if 
it  had  lieen  nuu'^  ly  a  tribut'  :■>  b"v  yf.urbfid  rdi;;iai:.  wbiidi  was 
well  ccnipanio;;:;.!  bv  'M''^-.  'Vyn'L\:■^■y>,(■'^  rdbr-jay  ma j' sty.  l!ut 
it  was  due-  ril-o  'o  wbi:;]"'rb' us  tbat  :b'-  \:::-  an  borcddary 
clainiant  of  tiif  '''!';n;  i-ni;-  ".-tab's,  v.'brim  J  larold  TraTis' nu' 
was  ;d;'a;t  to  z>\'--:vy.  lianbl  lii'ns-'lf  bad  of  late  not  ear'-b  to 
conceal  fdtbr-r  rb  bat  (iv  tla-  prfib'sbbiiy  :  tbcy  both  t^nd'-d 
rather  to  bis  b'i;;';r  b.'  n  bis  dbb'  r' :•.  And  to-day.  v/ben 
there  was  a  "y  ■  •\  propcaaion  of  lbTbi:':.s  pr.;S'_iiL.  the  wliisjicr- 
ings  sprr^ad  uybby. 

The  Couri;  -.as  still  :!:'■!■'■  cr'uvbd  tb';n  ni;  tbo  previous  day, 
when  our  po'a'  ai-'padnrai:  ■(!  l):'.'i;,f  ;,rd  jii<  i:wo  '"-(alicr  eoni- 
])anions  were  : -  Mi'iicr-  v  ;  v  yt-ir"-  iai]aa-';;iia"nt  with  iiard 
labor,  and  tlio  nici':-  .■iibLbrcni-b  i  vis'aipr.  v.dio  stole  tbe  De- 
barrys'  plate,  to  t:\.n  ~i  orMtion  '.,;■  bb\  ]'':ior  Ib'ebg'-  ba.il 
cried,  bad  wishf-d  bi.-  '.!  ■•  •■■iwv  bcai'^d  of  a  dcction,-"  an.l  in 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL,  451 

S[)ite  of  sermons  from  the  jail  eha})lain,  fell  back  on  the  ex- 
plaiiation  that  this  was  a  world  in  which  Spratt  and  Old  i^s'ick 
were  sure  to  got  the  best  of  it ;  so  that  in  Dredge's  case,  at 
least,  most  observers  must  have  had  the  mplanclioly  conviction 
that  there  had  been  no  (;nhancenient  of  public  spirit  and  faith 
in  ]irot:^ress  from  that  wave  of  political  agitation  which  had 
•X'iU'htr'd  tlie  Sproxton  I 'its. 

But  curiesity  was  necessarily  at  v.  higher  pit'-h  to-day,  when 
tlie  character  of  the  prisoner  au'l  the  circumstances  of  his 
(iffcnce  were  of  a  highly  unusual  kind.  A~-  so^n  as  Felix  ap- 
iier;red  at  the  bar.  a  murmur  rose  and  spread  into  a  loml  buzz, 
v>-]i;ch  continued  until  there  had  been  repeated  authoritative 
(^dls  f(_'r  silen"('  iu  tjie  Court.  leather  singularly,  it  was  now 
for  the  firsi-  tir^m  that  Esther  had  a  feeling  of  prich.'  in  him  on 
tlie  grouu']  siiiioly  of  his  a/ppeara?ice.  At  this  mon;ent.  wlien 
lie  was  the  (■'■iitn.'  of  a  multiiudirious  gaze,  wldclr  secured  to 
act  on  her  own  vision  like  a  broad  unmitigated  daylight,  she 
fi-lt  tli;i;  ti!''re  was  som;  tiling  };re-eminent  in_  him,  n.otwith- 
staniling  tla'  vicinity  of  numerous  gfuitlenien.  No  ajiplc- 
wonu'u  vould  have  ralndr-'l  him;  not  on'y  to  fenainine  minds 
likt'  ii\Lrs.  Tiiii  tV.  but  to  many  minds  in  coat  and  waistcoat, 
there  was  somr  thing  dangerrius  and  peri:aps  unprinci])ied  in 
his  bare  tiiro:it  and  great  (iotliic  li.>;nl  ;  aad  his  somewhat 
lUDSsive  V  rson  would  doubtless  ];ave  cune  cuit  very  oddly 
frftm  th"  hau'ls  of  a  fa-hirupble  tailor  of  tli:,t  time.  lUit  as 
Ib^th"]' s:"!V' jds  lai'ge  f^-ay  eyes  lo'')king  roiuid  cahnly  and  un- 
(h'aantiy.  first  at  t':o  audience  gejr^v-lly.  and  tlien  with  a  more 
observaiit  ex])]-e-sioi!  ;it  t lie  h;\v;.-er  ■  [::\<.l  ("ither  i-ersons  imme- 
dictely  arouiid  Idia.  sii''  i'dt  t;!:;t  ;.e  b'  r.'  V.i"  oidwaid  .kum]'' 
of  a  di:ai::;,-uislii(l  n;-:ruve.  Fi  rgiv-  hi  r  if  sin'  ];e;-'ded  this 
satisihclion  :  ail  of  us  —  wh.tlier  ma;  or  vomen  —  an;  !i:d)le 
to  tiiis  werd-OiO":;  of  lilkia^te  ]\:\\-  oi;r  ja'ef'ei'i  nee  j-e-t i!:e(l 
before  otlau'S  as  Well  a-;  oi.r-ei'.-  <.  []  ]■]■  said  iiiwaraiy.  villi 
a  eiU'tain  triumpin  that  Fi'iix  ibor  ioi  k.  d  as  woialiy  t>j  be 
chosei;  in  the  midst  if  tins  ;a)ve  assembi}'.  a^  li"  iiad  ever 
Kioki  ;1  ill  their  fr'rt)-^/''/.'  miller  tiie  sombre  liuht  oF  tlie  little 
yiark;"  in   'ds iik'  ■u--e  >k;rik 

Estla'T  had  felt  some,  rLdief   ia  liearinif  from    her   father   f]jpit 


452  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

Felix  had  insisted  on  doing  without  his  mother's  presence  5 
and  since  to  Mrs.  Holt's  imagination,  notwithstanding  her 
general  desire  to  have  her  character  inquired  into,  there  was 
no  greatly  consolatory  difference  between  being  a  witness  and 
a  criminal,  and  an  appearance  of  any  kind  '•'  before  the  judge  " 
could  hardly  be  made  to  suggest  anything  definite  that  would 
overcome  the  dim  sense  of  unalleviated  disgrace,  she  had  been 
less  inclined  than  usual  to  complain  of  her  son's  decision. 
Esther  had  shuddered  beforehand  at  the  inevitable  farce  there 
would  be  in  Mrs.  Holt's  testimony.  But  surely  Felix  would 
lose  something  for  want  of  a  witness  who  could  testify  to  his 
behavior  in  the  morning  before  he  became  involved  in  the 
tumult  ? 

"He  is  really  a  fine  young  fellow,"  said  Harold,  coming  to 
speak  to  Esther  after  a  colloquy  with  the  prisoner's  solici- 
tor. "  I  hope  he  will  not  make  a  blunder  in  defending 
himself." 

"  He  is  not  likely  to  make  a  blunder,"  said  Esther.  She 
had  recovered  her  color  a  little,  and  was  brighter  than  she  had 
been  all  the  morning  before. 

Felix  had  seemed  to  include  her  in  his  general  glance,  but 
had  avoided  looking  at  her  particularly  She  understood  how 
delicate  feeling  for  her  would  prevent  this,  and  that  she  might 
safely  look  at  him,  and  towards  her  father,  whom  she  could 
see  in  the  same  direction.  Turning  to  Harold,  to  make  an 
observation,  she  saw  that  he  was  looking  towards  the  same 
point,  but  with  an  expression  on  his  face  that  surprised  her. 

"  Dear  nie,"  she  said,  prompted  to  speak  without  any  reflec- 
tion ;  "  how  angry  you  look  !  I  never  saw  you  look  so  angry 
before.     It  is  not  my  father  you  are  looking  at  ?  " 

"  Oh  no!  I  am  angry  at  something  I  'm  looking  away  from," 
said  Harold,  making  an  effort  to  drive  back  the  troublesome 
demon  who  would  stare  out  at  window.  "It's  that  Jermyn," 
he  added,  glancing  at  his  mother  as  well  as  Esther.  "  He  will 
thrust  himself  under  my  (;yes  everywhere  since  I  refused  him 
an  interview  and  returni-'l  his  letter.  I  'm  determined  never 
to  speak  to  him  directly  again,  if  I  can  help  it." 

Mrs.  Transome  heard  with  a  changeless  face.      She  had  for 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  453 

some  time  been  watching,  and  had  taken  on  her  marble  look  of 
immobility.  She  said  an  inward  bitter  "'  Of  course  !  "  to  every- 
thing that  was  unpleasant. 

After  this  Esther  soon  became  impatient  of  all  speech  :  her 
attention  was  riveted  on  the  proceedings  of  the  Court,  and  on 
the  mode  in  which  Felix  bore  himself.  In  the  case  for  the 
prosecution  there  was  nothing  more  than  a  reproduction,  with 
irrelevancies  added  by  witnesses,  of  the  facts  already  known 
to  us.  Spratt  had  retained  consciousness  enougli,  in  the  midst 
of  his  terror,  to  swear  that,  when  he  Avas  tied  to  the  finger- 
post, Felix  was  presiding  over  the  actions  of  the  mob.  The 
landlady  of  the  Seven  Stars,  who  was  indebted  to  Felix  for 
rescue  from  pursuit  by  some  drunken  rioters,  gave  evidence 
that  went  to  prove  his  assum})tion  of  leadership  prior  to  the 
assault  on  S})ratt,  — remendjering  only  that  he  had  called  away 
her  pursuers  to  '•  better  sport.''  Various  respectable  witnesses 
swore  to  Felix's  '•  encouragement "'  of  the  rioters  who  were 
dragging  Spratt  in  King  Street ;  to  his  fatal  assault  on  Tucker; 
and  to  his  attitude  in  front  of  the  drawing-room  window  at 
the  ^[anor. 

Three  other  witnesses  gave  evidence  of  expressions  used  by 
the  ]H-isone]'.  tending  to  sliow  tlie  cliaracter  of  the  acts  with 
whicli  he  was  charged.  Two  were  Treby  tradesmen,  the  third 
was  n  clerk  from  DufHeld.  Tlie  clerk  had  heard  Felix  speak 
at  T)uffield  ;  the  Treby  men  had  frequently  heard  him  declare 
himself  (in  ]iulilie  matters  :  and  they  all  qnotcfl  expressions 
which  teiidcil  to  slunv  that  he  had  a  virulent  feeling  against 
the  respi>ctal.)le  sliojikceping  class,  ami  that  nothing  was  likely 
to  be  more  con'j;enial  to  him  than  th(>  gutting  of  retailers' 
shops.  Xo  one  else  knew  —  tlie  witnesses  themselves  did  not 
know  fully  —  how  far  their  stroiiu''  perception  and  memory  on 
tliese  ])oiius  was  due  to  a  fourth  mind,  naimdv.  that  of  ^Ir.  Jolin 
Joliiisoii.  thi^  att(irney,  wlio  was  iiiMidy  I'eluted  to  one  of  the 
Treby  witnesses,  and  a  familiar  ac(]uaintance  of  the  Duffield 
clerk,  ^hln  cauns^t  be  defim^e,  as  an  evidenci^-giving  animal  ; 
and  in  the  dithculty  of  getting  up  evidence  (ni  any  subject, 
there  is  room  for  much  uni'eeogiii/.ed  action  of  dili<_reiit  persons 
who  have  the   extra  stimulus   of   some   private    motive.      Mr. 


154  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   KADICAU 

Jolnison  was  present  in  Court  to-day,  but  in  a  modest,  retiied 
situation.  He  liad  come  down  to  give  information  to  Mr. 
Jermyn,  and  to  gather  information  in  other  quarters,  which 
was  well  illuminated  by  tlie  appearance  of  Esther  in  compan;y 
with  the  Transomes. 

When  the  case  for  tlie  prosecution  closed,  all  strangers 
thought  that  it  looked  VvTV  black  for  the  prisoner.  In  two 
instances  only  Felix  had  ch(>sen  to  put  a  cross-examining  ques- 
tioa.  The  iirst  was  to  ask  Spratt  if  he  did  not  believe  that 
hi;-;  having  been  tied  to  the  i>ost  had  saved  him  from  a  probably 
mortal  injury?  Tlie  second  was  to  ask  tlie  trad(>sman  who 
swore  to  his  liaving  Jieard  Felix  tell  th.e  rioters  to  leave  Tucker 
alone  and  come  along  with  him,  v,  liether  lie  iiad  uot.  shortly 
before,  heard  cries  among  the  m^ob  sumiiuming  to  an  attack  on 
th(^  wine-vaults  and  brewery. 

Esther  had  hitlierto  listened  closeh-  but  calmly.  She  knew 
that  there  would  be  this  strong  adverse  testimony  ;  and  all  her 
hojx'S  and  f(^ars  were  bent  on  wliat  was  to  coiue  be^^ond  it.  It 
was  when  the  priso^ior  was  aski^d  what  he  Iiad  to  adduce  in 
TC])]}'  tha,t  she  felt  herself  in  the  gras])  of  that  tremor  which 
docs  not  disalde  the  }nind.  but  rather  gives  kt'cner  conscious- 
ness of  a  taind  liaving  a  jienalty  of  body  attached  to  it. 

There  was  a  silence  as  of  lught  when  h\dix  Holt  l)egan  to 
S])eak.  His  voice  was  firm  and  c]e;ir  :  he  s])oke  wiih  simple 
gravity.  ;;iid.  evidently  wiihout  any  c-njoymcnt  of  the  occasion. 
]v;iher  1ia;l  ncn'cr  sc'n  ins  face  look  so  weaiy. 

"  My  Lord.  T  :\m  not  going  to  oecajjy  tiie  time  of  the  Court 
with  unia'eess;v/y  words.  1  believe  the  wilnessvs  j'or  the  pros- 
ecution Jiave  STioken  tlie  ti'ii'li  as  i'ee.-  lis  a  sujx'riicial  obser- 
vation woidd  enable  th"!ii  io  do  it;  a.nd  1  sec  nothing  that 
can  W"i;^di  wiiii  the  jury  in  ]ny  i'a.vin'.  r.!r;(\ss  they  liclieve  my 
statement  of  :av  own  luofivcs.  an.l  tlie  l:t  stimony  that  certain 
witnesses  will  L'ive  to  my  ehai'ae-tci'  end  ])nr[)OS(>s  as  being  in- 
Cf)nsistent  with  aiy  willinuly  aherlim:  .''isorih^r.  I  will  tell  the 
(!onrt  in  as  lew  wurils  as  I  can,  how  T  got  entan'jflei]  in  the 
mob.  how  I  eaini'  to  attack  t.lie  cojisiable.  and  how  I  was  led  to 
take  a  coarse  which  seems  rather  mad  to  myself,  now  I  look 
ba,(!k  nnon  it." 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE    RADICAL.  -ioo 

Felix  then  gave  a  concise  narrative  of  his  motives  and  con- 
duct on  the  (hiy  of  the  riot,  from  tlie  moment  when  he  was 
startu'd  into  (|uittin<:;  liis  work  by  the  earlier  uproar  of  the 
morning.  He  omitied,  ni  course,  his  visit  to  jLalthouse  Yard, 
and  merely  said  Lhat  lie  went  out  to  walk  again  after  returning 
to  (juiet  his  motlier's  mind,  lie  got  warna  i_l  b}'  the  story  of 
hi.-i  experience,  wldeh  moved  him  niure  stroiigix'  th;'cU  evtn', 
now  he  recalled  it  in  vil)ratlng  wo]-ds  Ixdore  a  large  audience 
of  his  fellow-iuen.  The  sublime  delight  of  truthful  speecli  to 
om;  who  has  the  great  gift  of  nit.  ring  it,  Vvdll  m;Ove  itbell  felt 
even  through  tlu~  }<:;ngs  of  sorrow. 

"That  is  all  I  huvc,  to  say  for  :nyself,  my  Tord.  I  jileaded 
'  Xot  guilty'  Li»  the  charg.'  of  .Manslaught(-J-,  Ijticau.^e  I  know 
that  v.'crd  m;;y  e;u'ry  a  meaning  whh-h  would  nc^t  i'airiy  a;)ply 
to  my  ;a-i.  W'lien  1  ,hrew  Tucker  (hnvn,  i  did  ia»t  see  the 
possibility  tliaL  lie  would  die  fr(.)m  a  sort  of  attack  whicii  ordi- 
narily oaenrs  in  figliting  without  a:iy  iatal  i-ffeet.  As  t,o  my 
assaultin;;  a  coiisrable,  it  Vv'as  ii  (luick  ciioice  bi-twr.-ii  two 
evils:  1  shoidd  ''Ise  liave  been  disabled.  And  lie  artaei^ed  me 
under  a  n:i■^t;d^.'  altout  iny  intentions.  L  "m  not  prepared  to 
say  I  never  wtaud  <;ssau]t  a.  C(i!i>;ai;le  wIi'TC;  1  liad  inov,'  chance 
of  delibeiMl  i');i.  I  cortainiy  siioul'l  aissault.  liini  if  T  saw  hnn 
doing  anytiiin';  ihat  niaia'  my  !)loo;]  boil  :  1  r  ■V'arence  tlie  lav/, 
but  not  Wiiere  b,  is  a  ja'ote-xt  ior  wrong,  vs'hieli  it  sliould  bi-  tlie 
\-ery  o'ojcct  oi'  law  ;o  liijidia.  I  cousilf-r  tint  T  siaiubl  b^  mak- 
ing an  unwortli\  dab'nee.  it  I  let,  lla  v'oarl:  infej'  fro;;;  v.  i;a:  I 
sa,v  !iiv:-!'ir.  vii'  i'i\)Ui  wiL,!!,  is  saci  l^y  juv  wii  ,'>■-•'•>.  t  liat  iierause 
i  a;:i  a  man  \'.  in)  iiaie  (irnaioai  moV:\'!'";:'.-s  ln^o^dt■^,  or  aiiy 
wan!  oil  lia.an,  t  iii-irtore  i  ani  a  nian  who  woiili]  nev<u'  t;L;ht 
against  ant  iiorily  ;  1  ho  la  ii  ;)lasphe!ny  to  say  ilia  t  a-  man  oeu  lit 
Uoi,  lo  light  a  :::mi>1  aulhoii;\  :  iiiere  ;s  no  ^reat  I'elmia;  and 
no  gr.'a",  rr.'.'iban  ;iial  ha-  not  boaa'  it.  in  the  be^anniiiLr.  it 
W(ai:  1  bi'  Inipia a  ;a;'nr  ior  me  lo  siieaK  ol'  this  niiw.  i;'  1  bib  not 
wr.il  io  sa\  ill  i.v  (iWii  bu't'i'iie.  .  ;li;,i  1  >hi.uldh(d!  n,y.-el:  tiie 
woi'st.  >:)rr  ol'  trait  .-r  a'  1  put  !a\  ba;al  <  at  lea-  to  t::b:;  ing  or  dis- 
ordia-  —  whiah  uiast  latMii  ina.i-y  t.  .  m  ;aa'l),_,,  b>"  —  1!  I  v,  vi'ruot 
nr;cd  !o  it  \)\  wliat  1  iiold  t'^  ■"•  sam-d  i'.'b.n.s.  mabing  a 
saerea  dat}  eiihrr  lu  uiy  ov.u   aia..iiooLl  or  L-.j   n.y  lelluv.'-man. 


456  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

And  certainly,"  Felix  ended  with  a  strong  ring  of  scorn  in  his 
voice,  "  I  never  held  it  a  sacred  duty  to  try  and  get  a  Radical 
candidate  returned  for  Xorth  Loamshire,  by  willingly  heading 
a  drunken  howling  mob.  whose  public  action  must  consist  in 
breaking  windows,  destroying  hard-got  produce,  and  endanger- 
ing the  lives  of  men  and  women.  I  have  no  more  to  say,  my 
Lord." 

''I  foresaw  he  would  make  a  blunder,"  said  Harold,  in  a  low 
voice  to  Esther.  Then,  seeing  her  shrink  a  little,  he  feared 
she  might  suspect  him  of  being  merely  stung  by  the  allusion 
to  himself.  "  I  don't  mean  what  he  said  about  the  Eadical 
candidate,"  he  added  liastily.  in  correction.  "  I  don't  mean  the 
last  sentence.  I  mean  that  whole  peroration  of  his,  which  he 
ought  to  have  left  unsaid.  It  has  done  him  luirni  with  the  jury 
—  they  won't  understand  it,  or  rather  will  misunderstand  it. 
And  I  '11  answer  for  it,  it  has  soured  the  judge.  It  remains  to 
be  seen  what  we  witnesses  can  say  for  him,  to  nullify  the  effect 
of  what  he  has  said  for  himself.  I  hope  the  attorney  has  done 
his  best  in  collecting  the  evidence  :  I  understand  tlie  expense 
of  the  witnesses  is  undertaken  by  some  Liberals  at  Glasgow 
and  in  Lancashire,  friends  of  Holt's.  But  I  suppose  your 
father  has  told  you." 

The  first  witness  called  for  the  defence  was  ^Mr.  Lyon.  The 
gist  of  his  statements  was,  that  from  the  beginning  of  Septem- 
ber last  until  the  day  of  election  ho  was  in  very  frequent  in- 
tercourse with  the  prisoner  ;  that  he  had  become  intimately 
acquainted  witli  liis  charactci-  and  views  of  life,  and  his  con- 
duct with  respect  to  the  election,  and  tliat  these  were  totally 
inconsistent  with  any  other  su])})osition  than  that  his  being 
involved  in  the  riot,  and  his  fatal  encounter  with  the  consta- 
ble, were  due  to  thf  calainitoas  failiu'C  of  a  bold  but  good 
purpose.  He  stated  further  that  lie  had  heon  present  when  an 
interview  had  occurred  in  Ids  own  liouse  between  the  prisoner 
and  iMr.  Harold  T]ansoni(\  who  was  then  canvassing  for  the 
representation  of  Xoi'th  Loamshire.  That  the  object  of  the 
prisoner  in  seeking-  this  interview  liad  been  to  inform  ^Mr. 
Trai:sonie  of  trfnitiiu  '^MVi^!!  in  liis  name  to  tlie  workmen  in  tlie 
pits  and  on  the  canal  at   S]jr<jxton.  aiid  to  remonstrate  against 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  457 

its  continuance ;  the  prisoner  fearing  that  disturbance  and 
mischief  might  result  from  what  he  believed  to  be  the  end 
towards  which  this  treating  was  directed  —  namely,  the  pres- 
ence of  these  men  on  the  occasions  of  the  nomination  and  poll- 
ing. Several  times  after  this  interview,  Mr.  Lyon  said,  he  had 
heard  Felix  Holt  recur  to  the  subject  therein  discussed  with 
expressions  of  grief  and  anxiety.  He  himself  was  in  the  habit 
of  visiting  Sproxton  in  his  ministerial  capacity  :  he  knew  fully 
what  the  prisoner  had  done  there  in  order  to  found  a  night- 
school,  and  was  certain  that  the  prisoner's  interest  in  the 
working  men  of  that  district  turned  entirely  on  the  ^possibility 
of  converting  them  somewhat  to  habits  of  soberness  and  to  a 
due  care  for  the  instruction  of  their  children.  Finally,  he 
stated  that  the  prisoner,  in  compliance  with  his  request,  had 
been  present  at  Duffield  on  the  day  of  the  nomination,  and 
had  on  his  r(>turn  expressed  himself  with  strong  indignation 
concerning  the  employment  of  the  Sproxton  men  on  that  oc- 
casion, and  what  he  called  the  wickedness  of  hiring  blind 
vinlencf. 

Tlie  quaint  appearance  and  manner  of  the  little  Dissenting 
minister  could  not  fail  to  stimulate  the  peculiar  wit  of  the  bar. 
He  was  subjected  to  a  troublesome  cross-examination,  which  he 
Iwre  wit1i  wide-eyed  short-sighted  quietude  and  absorption  in 
tlie  duty  of  truthful  response.  On  being  asked,  rather  sneer 
iiigly.  if  the  prisoner  was  not  one  of  his  flock  ?  he  answered, 
in  that  deeper  tone  which  made  oric  of  the  most  effective 
transitions  of  liis  vai'ying  voice  — 

•'•  Xay — would  to  God  he  were  I  I  should  then  feel  that 
tlie  great  virtues  and  the  pure  life  T  have  beheld  in  him  were 
a  witness  to  the  efHoac}'  of  the  faith  I  believe  in  and  the  dis- 
ci] iline  of  the  C'hureli  whereunto  I  belong."' 

Perhaps  it  required  a  larger  ])0wer  of  com])arison  than  was 
possessed  by  any  of  that  luidienct^  to  a})preciati'  tlie  moral 
elevation  r>f  an  Independent  niinisttu-  who  could  utter  those 
words.  Xevertlieh^ss  there  "Aas  a  nuuanur,  which  was  clearly 
one  of  synqiathy. 

The  next  witiH^ss.  and  tin-  >\\v  on  whom  the  interest  fvf  the 
spertutors   Vv'as    chiefly    eouet.:.i  rated,    was    Haioid    Tran>ome. 


458  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

There  was  a  decided  predomiuance  of  Tory  feeling  in  the 
Court,  and  tiie  liuman  disposition  to  enjoy  the  infliction  of  a 
little  punishment  on  an  opposite  party,  v/as,  in  tliis  instance, 
of  a  Tory  complexion.  Harold  was  keenly  alive  to  this,  and 
to  evcrytliing  else  that  miglit  prove  disagreeable  to  him  in  his 
liaving-  to  app{;ar  in  the  v.dtness-hox.  But  he  was  not  likely 
to  los:_<  his  self-possession,  or  to  fail  in  a,djusting  hinjself  grace- 
fully, under  conditions  v/hich  most  men  would  iind  it  diihcult 
to  carry  without  awkv/ardness.  lie  had  generosity  and  candor 
enough  to  bciir  Ftdix  Holt's  proiul  rejection  of  his  advances 
without  any  p'dty  resentment;  he  had  all  the  susceptibilities 
of  agentlc'nian  ;  and  these  moral  !;ualitics  gave  the  right  direc- 
tion to  his  acujuen,  in  judging  of  the  behavior  tliat  would  best 
secure  his  digidty.  Everything  requiring  self-command  vvas 
easier  to  Inm  becausie  of  h^stlurr's  presence  ;  lor  lier  adndration 
ivas  ]ust  tlien  the  (object  vincli  this  weli-tanned  man  of  the 
v.'orld  had  it  ino.st  ;if  heart  to  s  'cure. 

When  lie  entm'ed  the  v.dtncss-box  Ik;  was  mucii  admired  by 
the  ladies  amongst  tlie  a::di'.'iice,  many  of  wliom  siglied  a  little 
at  the  tlK)Ught  of  his  wrong  coui'se  in  politics.  Ho  certainly 
looked  like  a  handoome  portrait  l)y  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence,  in 
which  t]i:;t  remaricable  artist  luid  liappiiy  omitted  the  usual 
excess  of  lionciycd  blaudness  mixed  witli  alert  intelligeiK^e, 
whicli  is  h.ai'dly  coni])ai!ble  n'ith  tl;e  state  of  luan  out  of  para- 
dise, il'.:  stcjod  not  far  olf  I'\e]ix  :  and.  Ibe  two  liadlr-als  ecr- 
tiiidy  mad.'  a  striking  (tonti'ast.  i'^elix  migidj  li;!vc  coji'.e  fi'om 
tlio  }i;;,:ids  of  a  Si-a'jjK;;'  in  ihf'  later  lt(;]a;!a  pfidod,  Wiiei!  tlu; 
[daiLic  imjuds^'  was  ;;{iri'(\i  by  tli  '  gi'anik-ur  of  l)a!b';;ric  forms 
—  wlicii  r-)lled  collai'S  were  not  yet  conc(rived,  aad  satin  stocks 
were  ii'-t. 

JlaroM  'i'laiis.omc  (h'clai'ed  tliat  lie  liad  liad  oidy  one  inter- 
view witli  !;;■■  |ii-i.-.<ia.'r  :  it  w;is  ti:('  interview  i-tdc/rad  to  by 
the  previous  witucs:-,  in  wl;  k-.c  presence!  and  in  v>dios(.'  Iiotirte  it 
was  begun.  'I'hc  ndci'vi^w.  lioo.aivcr,  was  contimicd  oeyond 
the  ol)servation  oi'  Mr.  Ijy.m.  'Id  ■  iridsoner  ;uid  himself 
ouittcd  the  DissfiiLiug  minisLei'"s  iiouse  in  ^.ladtiiouse  Yard 
(;ogctjit'r,  and  ])rofei-'l(',i  to  the  oiiico  of  ]\fr.  Jeianyn,  who  '.vas 
then   conducting'   Oiueidoncerinii   ousiness  on  his   Oelx'df.      His 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  459 

object  was  to  comply  with  Holt's  remonstrance  by  inquiring 
into  the  aUeged  proceedings  at  Sproxton,  and,  if  possible,  to 
put  a  stop  to  t!iem.  Holt's  language.  ])oth  in  Malthouse  Yard 
and  in  the  attorney's  oiHce,  was  strong  :  he  was  evidently  in- 
dignant, and  his  indignation  turned  on  the  danger  of  employ- 
ing ignorant  men  excited  by  drink  on  an  occasion  of  i)opular 
concourse.  Ho  believed  that  Holt's  sole  motive  was  the  pre- 
vention of  disorder,  and  what  he  considered  the  demoralization 
of  the  workmen  by  treating.  The  event  had  certainly  justilied 
his  remonstrances.  He  had  not  had  any  subsequent  opportu- 
nities of  observing  the  prisoner ;  but  if  any  reliance  was  to  be 
placed  on  a  rational  conclusion,  it  nuist,  he  thought,  be  plain 
that  the  anxiety  thus  manifested  by  Holt  was  a  guarantee  of 
the  statement  he  had  made  as  to  his  motives  on  the  day  of  the 
riot.  His  entire  impression  from  Holt's  manner  in  that  single 
interview  was,  that  he  was  a  moral  and  political  enthusiast, 
who,  if  he  sought  to  coei'ee  others,  would  seek  to  coerce  them 
into  a  difticult,  and  perluqis  inq)ractical)le,  scrupulosity. 

Harold  spuke  with  as  noticeable  a  directness  and  emphasis, 
as  if  what  he  said  conld  hnv(^  no  reaction  on  hiniself.  He  had 
of  cours'^  not  ent^'ved  n.iinocessnrily  into  what  occurred  in  Jer- 
myn's  office.  r>ut  iiovv'  lie  \v;is  subjiH'ted  to  a  cross-examination 
on  tins  sul)j<'ct.  Avliich  gave  ris(>  to  some  subdued  shrugs,  smiles, 
and  winks,  among  county  gen11(Mn;in. 

Tlif  (]uestions  wei'(>  directed  st)  as  to  biang  out",  if  possible, 
some  indication  tliat  f'Vlix  Ibilt  was  moved  to  liis  i-emonstranco 
bv  personid  resentment  against  tlie  ixilitical  agents  eoneei-ned 
m  setting  on  foot  tlie  treating  a,r  Sp!-oxt?>n,  but  sncli  question- 
iiv^'  is  a  sort  of  tai-'j:et-sluiotin'j;  rliat  soini'timcs  liits  aI)ont 
widclv.  The  eross-exaiiiinin g  counsel  h.ad  close  connections 
among  t  he  Toi'ies  cU'  Loanisliire.  ami  enjoyed  his  busini^ss  to- 
dav.  I'nder  the  lire  ol'  vai'ious  (juestious  about  .T(M'myn  and 
the  agent  employtMi  b}'  him  .i!  S].r:,v*  ..;i.  Ha,r(dd  got  wiunu,  and 
in  o!ie  of  Ids  re]>lies  said,  wi;  li  hi--  raoal  sliaia)ne>s  — 

""Mr.  Jermyn  wa^  mv  agent  ihen.  I'.ot  now:  I  ha\"e  no  longer 
any  btit  liostile  relations  with  him." 

The  sense  that  h,e  liad  shmvn  a  sli-ht  heat  wiMild  liave  v'exed 
Harold  more  if  lie  had  not  got  some  satisfaction  out  of  the 


160  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

thought  that  Jermyn  heard  those  words.  He  recovered  his 
good  temper  quickly,  and  when,  subsequently,  the  question 
came  — 

"You  acquiesced  in  the  treating  of  the  Sproxton  men,  as 
necessary  to  the  efficient  working  of  the  reformed  constitu- 
ency ?  "  Harold  replied,  with  quiet  fluency  — 

"  Yes ;  on  my  return  to  England,  before  I  put  up  for 
North  Loamshire,  I  got  the  best  advice  from  practised  agents, 
both  Whig  and  Tory.  They  all  agreed  as  to  electioneering 
measures." 

The  next  witness  was  Michael  Brincey,  otherwise  Mike 
Brindle,  who  gave  evidence  of  the  sayings  and  doings  of  the 
prisoner  amongst  the  Sproxton  men.  Mike  declared  that 
Felix  went  "  uncon  mon  again'  driidv,  and  pitch-and-toss,  and 
quarrelling,  and  sich,"  and  was  "  all  for  schooling  and  bringing 
up  the  little  chaps;  "  but  on  being  cross-examined,  he  admitted 
that  he  '"couldn't  give  much  account;"  that  Felix  did  talk 
again'  idle  folks,  whether  poor  or  rich,  and  that  most  like  he 
meant  the  rich,  who  had  "  a  rights  to  be  idle,"  which  was  what 
he,  Mike,  liked  himself  sometimes,  though  for  the  most  part  he 
was  "a  hard-working  butty."  On  being  checked  for  this  super- 
fluous allegation  of  his  own  theoiy  and  practice,  Mike  became 
timidly  conscious  that  answering  was  a  great  mystery  beyond 
the  reaches  of  a  butty's  soul,  and  began  to  err  from  defect  in- 
stead of  excess.  However,  he  reasserted  that  what  Felix  most 
wanted  was,  "to  get  'em  to  set  up  a  school  for  the  little  chaps." 

^Vith  the  two  succeeding  witnesses,  who  swore  to  the  fact 
thnt  l<\dixhad  tried  to  lead  the  mob  along  Hobb's  Lane  instead 
of  towards  tlie  IVIanor,  and  to  the  violently  threatening  char- 
acter of  Tucker's  attack  on  him,  tliC  case  for  the  defence  was 
understood  to  close. 

Meanwhile  I'^stlior  tiad  been  looking  on  and  listening  with 
growing  misei'v.  in  the  sense  that  all  had  not  been  said  which 
might  have  besMi  said  on  behalf  of  Felix.  If  it  was  the  jury 
who  were  to  b;:;  ncted  on,  she  argued  to  herself,  there  might 
have  been  an  imjircssion  made  on  tlicir  feeling  which  would 
determine  their  vei'dict.  W:_s  it  not  constantly  said  and  seen 
that  juries  pronounced  (Juilty  or  iS'ot  Guilty  from  sympathy 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  461 

for  or  against  the  accused  ?  She  was  too  inexperienced  to 
check  her  own  argument  by  thoroughly  representing  to  herself 
the  course  of  things :  how  the  counsel  for  the  prosecution 
would  reply,  and  how  the  judge  would  sum  up,  with  the  object 
of  cooling  down  sympathy  into  deliberation.  What  she  had 
painfully  pressing  on  her  inward  vision  was,  that  the  trial  was' 
coming  to  an  end,  and  that  the  voice  of  right  and  truth  had  not 
been  strong  enough. 

When  a  woman  feels  purely  and  nobly,  that  ardor  of  hers 
which  breaks  through  formulas  too  rigorously  urged  on  men 
by  daily  practical  needs,  makes  one  of  her  most  precious  in- 
fluences :  she  is  the  added  impulse  that  shatters  the  stiffening 
crust  of  cautious  experience.  Her  inspired  ignorance  gives 
a  sublimity  to  actions  so  incongruously  simple,  that  otherwise 
they  would  make  men  smile.  Some  of  that  ardor  which  has 
flashed  out  and  illuminated  all  poetry  and  history  was  burning 
to-day  in  the  bosom  of  sweet  Esther  Lyon.  In  this,  at  least, 
her  woman's  lot  was  perfect :  that  the  man  she  loved  was  her 
hero ;  that  her  woinan's  passion  and  her  reverence  for  rarest 
goodness  rushed  together  in  an  undivided  current.  And  to- 
day they  were  making  one  danger,  one  terror,  one  irresistible 
impulse  for  her  heart.  Her  feelings  were  growing  into  a  ne- 
cessity for  action,  rather  than  a  resolve  to  act.  She  could  not 
support  the  thought  that  the  trial  would  come  to  an  end,  that 
sentence  would  be  passed  on  Felix,  and  that  all  the  while 
something  had  been  omitt(Ml  which  might  have  been  said  for 
him.  There  had  been  no  witness  to  t'dl  what  had  been  his 
behavior  and  state  of  mind  just  bcfcu'e  the  riot.  She  must  do 
it.  It  VvMS  possible.  There  was  time.  But  not  too  much 
tinu'.  All  other  agitation  became  merged  in  eagerness  not  to 
let  tlie  moment  escape.  The  last  witness  was  being  called. 
1  fan  lid  Transonie  had  not  been  able  to  get  back  to  her  on 
having  the  witness-box.  but  Mr.  Lingon  was  close  by  her. 
Witli  firm  (piickness  she  said  to  him  — 

"  Pray  tell  the  attorney  that  I  havt^  evidence  to  give  for  the 
prisontn"  —  lose  no  time." 

"Do  you  know  what  you  are  going  to  say,  my  dear  ?  "  said 
Mr.  LiuL'oii,  looking  at  her  in  a-iuuishment. 


462  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

"  Yes  —  I  entreat  you,  for  God's  sake,"  said  Esther,  in  that 
low  tone  of  urgent  beseeching  which  is  equivalent  to  a  cry  , 
and  with  a  look  of  appeal  more  penetrating  still,  ''  1  would 
rather  die  than  not  do  it." 

The  old  Eector,  always  leaning  to  the  good-natured  view  of 
things,  felt  chiefly  that  there  seemed  to  be  an  additional  chance 
for  the  poor  fellow  who  had  got  himself  into  trouble.  He  dis- 
puted no  farther,  but  went  to  the  attorney. 

Before  Harold  was  aware  of  Esther's  intention  she  was  on 
her  way  to  the  witness-box.  When  she  appeared  there,  it  Avas 
as  if  a  vibration,  quick  as  light,  had  gone  through  the  Court 
and  had  shaken  Felix  liimself,  who  had  hitherto  seemed  im- 
passive. A  sort  of  gleam  seemed  to  shoot  across  his  face,  and 
any  one  close  to  him  would  have  seen  that  his  hand,  which  lay 
on  the  edge  of  the  dofk,  trembled. 

At  the  first  moment  Harold  was  startled  and  alarmed;  the 
next,  he  felt  delight  in  Esther's  beautiful  aspect,  and  in  the 
admiration  of  the  Court.  There  was  no  blush  on  her  face : 
she  stood,  divested  of  all  personal  considerations  whether  of 
vanity  or  shyness.  Her  clear  voice  sounded  as  it  niigh.t  have 
done  if  she  had  h(H<n  making  a  confession  of  faith.  She  began 
and  went  on  without  query  or  interruption.  Every  face  looked 
grave  and  respectful . 

"  I  am  Esthfr  Lyon,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Lyon,  the  Inde- 
pendent minister  at  Treby,  who  has  Ijeen  one  of  the  witnesses 
for  the  prisoner.  T  know  Felix  Holt  well.  On  the  day  of  the 
f'lcftion  at  Trpl)y.  when  I  had  been  mueh  alarmed  by  the  noises 
tli;it  reaehed  me  from  the  main  street,  Felix  Holt  came  to  call 
up(jn  T];e.  He  knew  that  my  fatlier  was  away,  and  he  thought 
tliat  T  should  be  nlarnied  by  the  sounds  of  distiu'ljanee.  It 
was  about  the  middh!  of  the  day,  and  he  came  to  tell  me  tliat 
the  disturbiiuce  Avas  fiuieted,  and  that  the  streets  were  m.-arly 
emptied.  I'.ut  lie  said  he  fi/ared  that  the  men  would  collect 
again  after  drinAiIlL^  and  tliat  sometliing  v.-orse  might  happen 
later  in  the  da}'.  And  lie  vras  in  mueli  sadness  at  this  thought. 
He  sta^-ed  a  little  while,  and  tli-n  lie  left  me.  He  was  very 
melancholy.  His  mind  was  full  of  i^reat  resolutions  that  came 
from  his   kind  feeliuLT  towards  others.     It  was  the  last  thing 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  468 

he  would  have  done  to  join  in  riot  or  to  hurt  any  man,  if  he 
could  have  heljxHl  it.  His  nature  is  very  noble ;  he  is  tender- 
hearted ;  he  could  never  have  had  any  intention  that  was  not 
brave  and  good." 

There  was  something-  so  naive  and  beautiful  in  this  action 
of  Esther's,  that  it  c()iu|uercd  every  low  or  petty  suggestion 
even  in  the  commonest  minds.  The  three  men  in  that  as- 
sembly who  knew  her  best  —  evi'u  her  father  and  Felix  Holt 
—  felt  a  thrill  of  surpiiso  mingling  with  their  admiration. 
This  bright,  dedicate,  b'-jautiful-shaped  thing  that  seemed  most 
like  a  toy  or  ornament  —  some  hand  had  touched  the  chords, 
antl  tluu'e  came  forth  musii-  that  brought  tears.  Half  a  year 
before,  Esther's  dread  of  Ixdng  ridiculous  sjjread  over  the 
surface  of  her  life;  but  the  de})tli  ])elow  was  sleeping. 

Harold  Traiisoiiie  was  rcjuly  to  give  h;.'r  his  hand  and  lead 
lier  back  1o  her  place.  When  slie  was  there,  Felix,  for  the 
first  time,  could  not  help  looking  towards  her,  and  their  eyes 
met  in  one  solemn  glance. 

Afterwards  Esther  found  hei'self  unable  to  listen  so  as  to 
form  any  je.dgnuuit  on  what  she  heard.  The  acting  out  of 
that  strojig  impulse  had  exhausted  her  energy.  There  was  a 
brief  pause,  fillc'd  with  a  murnuir,  a  buzz,  and  nnich  coughing. 
The  audi(>nce  generally  felt  as  if  dull  weather  was  setting  in 
again.  And  under  those  aus[)ii'e3  th<3  counsel  for  the  prosecu- 
tion got  up  to  ninki'  liis  rr'jil}-.  Esther's  dcc(l  jiad  its  effect 
lieyond  the  ninmcutary  (  iie,  Ijut  the  eftVct  was  not  visible;  in 
the  rigid  necessities  of  leg.d  ])i'ocedure.  The  counsrl's  duty  of 
restoring  all  unfavordble  furts  in  due  proinin'  iin'  in  the  nuiiils 
of  the  jnrors,  had  its  effect  alto-ctner  miii'nref(l  by  tin*  suni- 
ming-up  of  tlie  judge.  I'-vm  llie  ])av  diseei'inucnt  (if  facts, 
juuch  nuu'o  their  arrangement  \\  ith  a  view  to  iiif'Tcnces,  must 
carry  a  bias  •  hniuan  impaitia'ity,  \\']iethei-  judicial  or  net,  can 
hardly  escapt^  being  mnri^  or  lr>-.  Inadcd.  It  was  net  that  the 
judge  had  severe  iiitfutii  n,>  ;  it  was  only  that  ln'  saw  with 
severity.  Tlie  ccndiiet  of  ]■"<  ;ix  was  not  sui-h  as  ineliie'd  him 
to  indulgent  consid'.'ration.  an^l.  in  his  directiens  to  the  jury, 
that  mental  attitude  necessariix  told  on  tlie  ii<ht  in  whirh  he 
placed   the  homicidie.     Even   lo  many  in  the  Court  who  v.cra 


464  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

not  constrained  by  judicial  duty,  it  seemed  that  though  this 
high  regard  felt  for  the  prisoner  by  his  friends,  and  especially 
by  a  generous-hearted  woman,  was  very  pretty,  such  conduct 
as  liis  was  not  the  less  dangerous  and  foolish,  and  assaulting 
and  killing  a  constable  was  not  the  less  an  offence  to  be 
regarded  Avithout  leniency. 

Esther  seemed  now  so  tremulous,  and  looked  so  ill,  that 
Harold  begged  her  to  leave  the  Court  with  his  mother  and 
Mr.  Lingon.  He  would  come  and  tell  her  the  issue.  But  she 
said,  quietly,  that  she  would  rather  stay ;  she  was  only  a  little 
overcome  by  the  exertion  of  speaking.  She  was  inwardly 
resolved  to  see  Felix  to  the  last  moment  before  he  left  the 
Court. 

Though  she  could  not  follow  the  address  of  the  counsel  or 
the  judge,  she  had  a  keen  ear  for  what  was  brief  and  decisive. 
She  heard  the  verdic'^,  "  Guilty  of  manslaughter."  And  every 
word  uttered  by  the  judge  in  pronouncing  sentence  fell  upon 
her  like  an  unforgetable  sound  that  would  come  back  m  dream- 
ing and  in  waking.  She  had  her  eyes  on  Felix,  and  at  the 
words,  ''  Imprisonment  for  four  years,"  she  saw  his  lip  tremble. 
But  otherwise  he  stood  firm  and  calm. 

Esther  gave  a  start  from  her  seat.  Her  heart  swelled  with 
a  horrible  sensation  of  pain ;  but,  alarmed  lest  slie  should  lose 
her  self-command,  slie  grasped  !Mrs.  Transome's  hand,  getting 
some  strength  from  that  human  contact. 

Esther  saw  that  Felix  had  turned.  She  could  no  longer  see 
his  face.     "  Yes,'"  she  said,  drawing  down  her  veil,  "let  us  go." 


CHAPTER  XLVIL 

The  dpvil  tempts  iis  not  —  't  is  we  tempt  him. 

Beckoning  his  skill  with  opportunity. 

The  more  permanent  effect  of  Esther's  action  in  the  trial 
was  visible  in  a  meeting  which  took  place  the  next  day  in 
tli'i   ;;rincinal  room  of  the  White  Hart  at  Loamford.     To  the 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  465 

magistrates  and  otlier  county  gentlemen  wlio  were  drawn  togeth- 
er about  noon,  some  of  the  necessary  impulse  might  have  been 
lacking  but  for  that  stirring  of  heart  in  certain  just-spirited 
men  and  good  fathers  among  them,  which  had  been  raised  to 
a  high  pitch  of  emotion  by  Esther's  maidenly  fervor  Among 
these  one  of  the  foremost  was  Sir  ]\I;iximus  Debarry,  who  had 
come  to  the  assizes  with  a,  mind,  as  usual,  slightly  rebellious 
under  an  iniiueuce  which  he  never  ultimately  resisted  —  the 
influence  of  his  son.  Philip  Debarry  liimself  was  detained  in 
London,  but  in  his  correspondence  with  his  father  he  had 
urged  him,  as  well  as  his  uncle  Augustus,  to  keep  eyes  and 
interest  awake  on  the  subject  of  Felix  Holt,  whom,  from  all 
the  knowledge  of  the  case  he  had  been  able  to  obtain,  he  was 
inclined  to  believe  peculiarly  unfortunate  rather  than  guilty. 
Philip  had  said  he  was  the  more  anxious  that  his  family  should 
intervene  benevolently  in  this  affair,  if  it  were  possible,  be- 
cause he  understood  that  Mr.  Lyon  took  the  young  man's  case 
particularly  to  lieart,  and  he  should  always  regard  himself  as 
obliged  to  the  old  [Ji'cacher.  At  this  su})ertineness  of  consider- 
ation Sir  ]\raximus  had  vented  a  few  '-pshaws!"'  and,  in  rela- 
tion to  the  whole  affair,  had  gruml)led  that  Phil  was  always 
setting  him  to  do  ho  didn't  know  what  —  always  seeming  to 
turn  nothing  into  souK^thing  by  dint  of  words  which  hadn't  so 
much  substance  as  a  mote  behind  them.  Nevertheless  he  was 
coerced;  and  in  reality  he  was  williiig  to  do  anything  fair  or 
good-natured  which  had  a  handle  that  his  understanding  could 
lay  hold  of.  Ilis  brother,  the  Rector,  desired  to  be  rigorously 
just;  but  he  had  come  to  Loamford  with  a  severe  opinion  con- 
cerning Felix,  thinking  that  some  sharp  pimishment  might  be 
a  wholesome  check  on  the  career  of  a  young  man  disposed  to 
rely  too  mueh  on  his  own  crude  devices. 

15efor(>  the  trial  commenced,  Sir  ^Vlaximus  had  naturally 
been  one  of  those  who  had  observed  Esther  with  curiosity, 
owing  to  the  report  of  her  inlcritance,  and  her  probable  mar- 
riage to  his  once  welcome  but  now  exasperating  neighbor, 
Harold  Transonic  ;  and  he  h;id  made  the  emjihatie  comment 
—  '"A  fine  girl  I  something  thoroughbred  in  the  look  of  her  I 
Too  good  fur  a  Eadical :  that-  "^  all  I  have  to  say."'     But  during 

VOL.     III.  OU 


466  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

the  trial  Sir  Maximus  was  wrought  into  a  state  of  sympathetic 
ardor  that  needed  no  fanning.  As  soon  as  he  could  take  his 
brother  by  the  buttonhole,  he  said  — 

"  I  tell  you  what,  Gus  !  we  must  exert  ourselves  to  get  a 
pardon  for  this  young  fellow.  Confound  it !  what 's  the  use 
of  mewing  him  up  for  four  years  ?  Example  ?  ]S"onsense. 
Will  there  be  a  man  knocked  down  the  less  for  it  ?  That  girl 
made  me  cry.  Depend  upon  it,  whether  she  's  going  to  marrj'- 
Transome  or  not,  she  's  been  fond  of  Holt  —  in  her  poverty, 
you  know.  .She  's  a  modest,  brave,  beautiful  woman.  I  'd 
ride  a  steeplechase,  old  as  I  am,  to  gratify  her  feelings.  Hang 
it !  the  fellow  "s  a  good  felloAv  if  she  thinks  so.  And  he  threw 
out  a  fine  sneer,  I  thought,  at  the  Eadical  candidate.  Depend 
Tipou  it,  he  's  a  good  fellow  at  l)ottom.'' 

The  I' ector  had  not  exactly  the  same  kind  of  ardor,  nor  was 
he  open  to  jirecisely  that  process  of  proof  which  appeared  to 
have  convinced  Sir  ?>Iaxinius  ;  li'ut  he  had  been  so  far  influ- 
enced as  to  be  inclined  to  ludte  in  an  effort  on  the  side  of 
mercy,  observing,  also,  that  he  '•  knew  Phil  would  be  on  that 
side."'  And  by  the  co-operation  of  similar  movements  in  the 
minds  of  other  men  whose  names  were  of  weight,  a  meeting 
had  been  d(4i'i-inined  on  to  consult  about  gctti]:ig  up  a  memo- 
rial to  tlie  Home  Secretary  on  l)ehaif  of  I^elix  Holt.  His  case 
had  iKn-er  had  the  sort  of  significance  that  e(juld  rouse  politi- 
ea.1  parti-ansliip  ;  and  such  inti'i'cst  as  was  now  felt  in  him 
was  still  more  unmixed  with  that  inducenn'nt.  Tim  gentle- 
men .vlio  tiatlicri'd  in  tie'  room  at  tlic  White  Hart  wei-e —  not 
as  t!ie  l:;rge  imaginaiion  of  the  '■  North  l^oamshire  Herald" 
suggested,  '-'of  all  shades  of  jjolitical  oj^'inion."  bnt — of  as 
many  shades  as  were  to  be  found  among  the  gentlemen  of 
that  county. 

Harold  Transome  had  fieen  energetically  active  in  bringing 
about  this  meetinL:.  (')vei-  and  above  the  stings  of  conscience 
and  a  deternnnation  to  act  uj)  to  the  levd  of  all  recognized 
houorableness,  he  liad  the  poweiful  motive  of  desiring  to  do 
what  vrould  satisfy  E>th(.'r.  His  gradually  heiglitened  percep- 
tion that  she  had  a  strong-  feeding  towards  Felix  Holt  had  not 
made  him  uneasy.     HaroLl  had  a  conviction  that  might  have 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  467 

seemed  like  fatuity  if  it  had  not  been  that  he  saw  the  effect 
he  produced  on  Esther  by  the  light  of  his  opinions  about 
women  in  general.  The  conviction  was,  tliat  Felix  Holt  could 
not  be  his  rival  in  any  formidable  sense  :  Esther's  admiration 
for  this  eccentric  young  man  was,  he  thought,  a  moral  enthu- 
siasm, a  romantic  fervor,  which  was  one  among  those  many 
attractions  quite  novel  in  his  own  experience  ;  her  distres? 
about  the  trouble  of  one  who  had  been  a  familiar  oljject  in 
licr  former  home,  was  no  more  than  naturally  followed  from  a 
tender  woman's  compassion.  The  place  young  Holt  had  held 
in  her  regard  had  necessarily  changed  its  relations  now  that 
her  lot  was  so  Avidcly  changed.  It  is  undeniable,  that  what 
most  conduced  to  the  rpiicting  nature  of  Harold's  conclusions 
was  the  iniluence  on  his  imaginution  of  the  more  or  less  de- 
tailed reasons  that  Felix  Holt  was  a  watchmaker,  that  his 
home  and  dress  were  of  a  certain  qunlity.  that  his  person  and 
manners  —  that,  in  short  (for  Harold,  like  tlie  rest  of  us,  liad 
many  im])ressions  v.-hieh  saved  him  the  trouble  of  distinct 
ideas),  Felix  Holt  w;is  not  the  sort  of  m;in  a  woman  would  be 
likely  to  be  in  love  with  when  she  was  wooed  by  Harold 
Transome. 

Thus,  he  was  snfriciently  at  rest  on  tliis  jKunt  not  to  be 
ext'reising  any  pain i'ul  seli'-conipiest  in  acting  as  the  zealous 
advocate  oi'  Felix  Holt's  cause  witli  all  persons  worth  influ- 
en<ing;  but  it  was  ly  no  dii'i'ct  int'Mvourse  lii'tweiMi  him  and  Sir 
31aximus  ti:::t  tlicy  found  tliemschi's  in  co-o})ei-ati()n.  for  the 
old  baronet  would  not  recognize  Harold  l)y  more  than  the 
faintest  bow,  and  Harobl  was  not  a  mriu  to  exjtose  liimselt  to 
a  rebuif.  What(!ver  ];.'  in  liis  iunmst  soul  regarded  as  runhiiii: 
nidi'e  than  a„  narrow  ju'i'j'.idiee,  he  could  dtd'y,  not  witli  airs 
(it  importance.  l)ut  with  easy  indifference.  Tie  could  b-ear 
must  things  good-humorediy  wliere  he  felt  that  he  had  the 
snperiority.  Tho  object  ol"  tlie  meeting  was  discussed,  and 
tlie  niiuuorial  agri.'cd  u})on  wiiliout  any  elasliini::.  ^Iv.  Lingijn 
was  gone  home,  but  it  Avas  ex])ecteil  that  his  concurrence  and 
signature  would  be  given,  as  -.veil  as  those  of  otlier  gentlemen 
who  were  absent.  'J'he  bu-ine'ss  gradually  reached  tliat  stage 
at    which    the    concentraticui    of    interest    ceases  —  when    the 


468  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

attention  of  all  but  a  few  wlio  are  more  practically  concerned 
drops  off  and  disperses  itself  in  private  chat,  and  there  is  no 
longer  any  particular  reason  why  everybody  stays  except  that 
everybody  is  there.  The  room  was  rather  a  long  one,  and  in- 
vited to  a  little  movement:  one  gentleman  drew  another  aside 
to  speak  in  an  undertone  about  Scotch  bullocks ;  another  had 
something  to  say  about  the  Xorth  Loamshire  Hunt  to  a  friend 
who  was  the  reverse  of  good-looking,  but  who,  nevertheless, 
while  listening,  showed  his  strength  of  mind  by  giving  a  severe 
attention  also  to  his  full-length  reflection  in  the  handsome 
tall  mirror  that  filled  the  space  between  two  windows.  And 
in  this  way  the  groups  were  continually  shifting. 

But  in  the  mt^an  time  there  were  moving  towards  this  room 
at  the  "White  Hart  the  footsteps  of  a  person  whose  jiresence 
had  not  been  invited,  and  who,  very  far  from  being  drawn 
thither  by  the  belief  that  he  would  be  welcome,  knew  well 
that  his  entrance  would,  to  one  person  at  least,  be  bitterly 
disagreeable.  They  were  the  footsteps  of  Mr.  Jermyn,  whose 
appearance  that  morning  was  not  less  comely  and  less  care- 
fully tended  than  usual,  but  who  was  suffering  the  torment  of 
a  compressed  rage,  which,  if  not  impotent  to  inflict  pain  on 
another,  was  impotent  to  avert  evil  from  himself.  After  his 
interview  with  ]Mrs.  Transome  there  had  been  for  some  reasons 
a  delay  of  positive  procedures  against  him  by  Harold,  of  which 
delay  Jermyn  had  twice  availed  himself ;  first,  to  seek  an 
interview  with  Harold,  and  tlien  to  send  him  a  letter.  The 
interview  liad  been  refused ;  and  the  letter  had  been  returned, 
with  the  statement  that  no  communication  could  take  place 
except  through  Harold's  lawyers.  And  yesterday  Johnson 
had  brought  Jermyn  the  information  that  he  would  quickly 
hear  of  the  proceedings  in  Chancery  being  resumed :  the 
watch  Johnson  kopt  in  town  had  given  him  secure  knowledge 
on  this  head.  A  doomed  animal,  with  every  issue  earthed  up 
except  that  where  its  enemy  stands,  must,  if  it  has  teeth  and 
fierceness,  try  its  one  chance  without  delay.  And  a  man  may 
reach  a  point  in  his  life  in  wliich  his  impulses  are  not  distin- 
guished from  those  of  a  hunted  brute  by  any  cajmbility  of 
scruples.     Our  selfishness  is   so  robust  and   many-clutching, 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  469 

that,  well  encouraged,  it  easily  devours  all  sustenance  away 
from  our  poor  little  scruples. 

Since  Harold  would  not  give  Jermyn  access  to  him,  that 
vigorous  attorney  was  resolved  to  take  it.  He  knew  all  about 
the  meeting  at  the  White  Hart,  and  he  was  going  thither  with 
the  determination  of  accosting  Harold.  He  thought  he  knew 
what  he  should  say,  and  the  tone  in  which  he  should  say  it. 
It  would  be  a  vague  intimation,  carrying  the  effect  of  a  threat, 
which  should  compel  Harold  to  give  him  a  i)rivate  interview. 
To  any  counter-consideration  that  presented  itself  in  his  mind 
—  to  anything  that  an  imagined  voice  might  say  —  the  im- 
agined answer  arose,  "  That 's  all  very  fine,  but  I  'm  not  going 
to  be  ruined  if  I  can  help  it  —  least  of  all,  ruined  in  that  way." 
Shall  we  call  it  degeneration  or  gradual  development  —  this 
effect  of  thirty  additional  winters  on  the  soft-glancing,  versi- 
fying young  Jermyn  ? 

"When  Jermyn  entered  the  room  at  the  W^hite  Hart  he  did 
not  immediately  see  Harold.  The  door  was  at  the  extremity 
of  the  room,  and  the  view  was  obstructed  by  groups  of  gentle- 
men with  figures  broadened  by  overcoats.  His  entrance  excited 
no  peculiar  observation :  several  persons  had  come  in  late. 
Only  one  or  two,  who  knew  Jermyn  well,  were  not  too  much 
preoccupied  to  have  a  glancing  remembrance  of  what  had  been 
chatted  about  freely  the  day  before  —  Harold's  irritated  reply 
aV)out  his  agent,  from  the  witness-box.  Eeceiviug  and  giving 
a  slight  nod  here  and  tliere,  Jermyn  pushed  his  way.  looking 
round  keenly,  until  he  saw  Harold  standing  near  the  other  end 
of  the  room.  The  solicitor  who  had  acted  for  Felix  was  just 
then  speaking  to  him,  but  having  put  a  paper  into  his  hand 
tui'ned  away  ;  and  Harold,  standing  isolated,  though  at  no  great 
distance  from  others,  bent  his  eyes  on  the  i)aper.  He  looked 
brilliant  that  morning;  his  blood  was  flowing  prosperously. 
He  had  come  in  after  a  ride,  and  was  additionally  brightened 
by  ra])id  talk  and  the  excitement  of  seeking  to  impress  himself 
favorably,  or  at  least  powerfully,  on  the  minds  of  neighbors 
nearer  or  more  remote.  He  had  just  that  amount  of  flush 
which  indicates  that  life  is  more  enjoyable  than  usual ;  and  as 
he  stood  with  his  left  hand  caressing  his  whisker,  and  his  right 


470  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

holding  the  paper  and  his  riding-whip,  his  dark  eyes  running 
rapidly  along  the  written  lines,  and  his  lips  reposing  in  a  curve 
of  good-humor  which  had  more  happiness  in  it  than  a  smile, 
all  beholders  might  have  seen  that  his  mind  was  at  ease. 

Jermyn  walked  quickly  and  quietly  close  up  to  him.  The 
two  men  were  of  the  same  height,  and  before  Harold  looked 
round  Jermyn's  voice  was  saying,  close  to  his  ear,  not  in  a 
whisper,  but  in  a  hard,  incisive,  disrespectful  and  yet  not  loud 
tone  — 

"  Mr.  Transonic,  I  must  speak  to  you  in  private." 
The  sound  jarred  thi'ongli  Harold  with  a  sensation  all  the 
more  insufferable  because  of  the  revulsion  from  the  satisfied, 
almost  elated,  sta,te  in  which  it  had  seized  him.  He  started 
and  looked  round  into  Jermyn's  eyes.  For  an  instant,  which 
seemed  long,  there  was  no  sound  between  them,  but  only  angry 
hatred  gathering  in  the  two  faces.  Harold  felt  himself  going 
to  crush  this  insolence :  Jermyn  felt  that  he  had  words  within 
him  that  were,  fangs  to  clutch  this  obstinate  strength,  and 
wring  forth  the  blood  and  compel  submission.  And  Jermyn's 
impulse  was  the  more  urgent.  He  said,  in  a  tone  that  was 
rather  lower,  but  yet  harder  and  more  biting  — 
''  You  will  repent  else — •  for  your  mother's  sake." 
At  that  sound,  quick  as  a  lea])ing  ilanie,  Harold  had  struck 
.Jermyn  across  the  face  witli  his  whi)).  Tlie  l)rim  of  the  hat 
had  bec^n  a,  dei'once.  Jermyn,  a,  ])Owerfnl  man,  luid  instantly 
tin-ust  out;  his  h.'ind  and  clutched  Harold  hard  by  the  clothes 
just  bi'low  !he  i]ii-oa,t,  })ushing  him  sliglitly  so  as  to  make  hin. 
stagger. 

l)y  this  lime  eviM-ybody's  attention  had  been  called  to  this 
end  of  tlie  ronm,  'out,  both  .T(M'myn  and  Hiirold  were  beyond 
being  arrested  by  luiy  consciousness  of  s])ectators. 

"■  Ijct  me  go.  vdii  scoundi'el  !"  said  Harold,  fiercely,  "or  I'll 
be  tlic  deatli  ol'  yon.'" 

"Do,"  said  .rermyn.  in  a  grnting  voice;   "  I  am  your  father  P 

In  the  thrust  by  \v!i:''li   Harold  had  been  inade  to  stagger 

backward    a  lirtic!,  the  two  men  had   got  very  near  the  long 

mirror.      Tiiey  were  botli  wliit'*  :   both  had  anger  and  hati'ed  in 

their  faces ;    the   hamis   of   botii  were   upraised.     As    Harold 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  471 

iieard  the  last  terrible  words  lie  started  at  a  leaping  throb 
that  went  through  him,  and  in  the  start  turned  his  eyes  away 
from  Jermyn's  face.  He  turned  them  on  the  same  face  in  the 
glass  with  his  own  beside  it,  and  saw  the  hated  fatherhood 
reasserted. 

The  young  strong  man  reeled  with  a  sick  faintness.  But  in 
the  same  moment  Jermyii  released  his  hold,  and  Harold  felt 
himself  supported  by  the  arm.  It  was  Sir  ]\Iaximus  Debarry 
who  had  taken  hold  of  him. 

"  Leave  the  room,  sir  I  "  the  Baronet  said  to  Jermyn,  in  a 
voice  of  imperious  scorn.     "  This  is  a  meeting  of  gentlemen."' 

'•'  Come,  Harold,"  he  said,  in  the  old  friendly  voice,  "  come 
away  with  me." 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

'TIS  law  as  steadfast  as  the  throne  of  Zeus  — 
Our  days  are  heritors  of  da\s  gone  i)y 

TI-lsciiYLUS :   Agamemnon. 

A  LTTTLK  after  five  o'clock  that  day,  Harold  arrived  at  Trau- 
some  ror.rt.  As  h(>  was  winding  along  the  brond  road  of  the 
jiark.  some  parting  gleams  of  \\w  ^.larch  snn  jiicrced  the  trees 
here  and  there,  and  tlircw  on  the  grass  a  long  shadow  of  liim- 
self  and  the  gixioiu  riding,  and  illuminated  a  window  or  two 
of  the  home  he  Avas  a.])pr()a.('hing.  lUit  tlie  bitterness  iu  liis 
mind  mad"  tliese  sunny  gl(\niis  almost  as  cidious  as  an  artifi- 
cial siiiih'.  Ho  wislicd  lie  liail  nevtn-  come  back  to  this  }iah' 
EnL;'lisl!   sun.slnne. 

In  tlio  eonvsi'  oF  his  eighteen  mih's'  drive,  he  had  made  up 
his  mind  what  he  would  do.  He  understood  now.  as  lie  had 
never  uud(M'stoMil  before,  tlio  neglcctiMl  solitariness  of  his 
mother's  life,  the  allusions  and  innuendoes  wliieh  had  come  out 
during  tlie  election.  1-^ut  Avitli  a  proud  insurrection  against 
the  hardship  of  an  ignouiiiu'  \\1ii(di  Avas  not  of  liis  own  mak- 
ing, he  inwardly  said,  that  if  the  circumstances  of  his  birth 


472  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

were  such  as  to  warrant  any  man  in  regarding  his  character 
of  gentleman  with  ready  suspicion,  that  character  should  be 
the  more  strongly  asserted  in  his  conduct.  jSTo  one  should 
be  able  to  allege  with  any  show  of  proof  that  he  had  inherited 
meanness. 

As  he  stepped  from  the  carriage  and  entered  the  hall,  there 
were  the  voice  and  the  trotting  feet  of  little  Harry  as  usual, 
and  the  rush  to  clasp  his  father's  leg  and  make  his  joyful 
puppy-like  noises.  Harold  just  touched  the  boy's  head,  and 
then  said  to  Dominic  in  a  weary  voice  — 

"  Take  the  child  away.     Ask  where  my  mother  is." 

Mrs.  Transome,  Dominic  said,  was  up-stairs.  He  had  seen 
her  go  up  after  coming  in  from  her  walk  with  Miss  Lyon,  and 
she  had  not  come  down  again. 

Harold,  throwing  off  liis  hat  and  great-coat,  went  straight 
to  his  mother's  dressing-room.  There  was  still  a  hope  in  his 
mind.  He  might  be  suffering  simply  from  a  lie.  There  is 
much  misery  created  in  the  world  by  mere  mistake  or  slander, 
and  he  might  have  been  stunned  by  a  lie  suggested  by  such 
slander.     He  rapped  at  his  mother's  door. 

Her  voice  said  immediately,  '^  Come  in." 

Mrs.  Transome  was  resting  in  her  easy-chair,  as  she  often 
did  between  aii  afternoon  walk  and  dinner.  She  had  taken 
off  her  walking-dress  and  wrapped  herself  in  a  soft  dressing- 
gown.  Slie  was  neither  more  nor  less  empty  of  joy  than 
usual.  lUit  when  she  saw  Harold,  a  dreadful  certainty  took 
possession  of  her.  It  was  as  if  a  long-expected  letter,  with  a 
black  seal,  had  come  at  last. 

Harold's  face  told  her  Avhat  to  fear  the  more  decisively, 
because  she  had  never  before  seen  it  express  a  man's  deep 
agitation.  Since  the  time  of  its  ])0uting  cliildhood  and  care- 
less youth  slu'  liad  seen  only  the  confident  strength  and  good- 
humored  im])eri()usness  of  maturity.  The  last  five  hours  had 
made  a  change  as  great  as  illness  makes.  Harold  looked  as  if 
he  had  Ijeen  wrestling,  and  had  had  some  terrible  blow.  His 
eyes  had  that  sunken  look  which,  because  it  is  unusual,  seems 
to  intensify  expression. 

He  looked  at  his  mother  as  he  entered,  and  her  eyes  fol- 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL.  473 

lowed  him  as  he  moved,  till  he  oame  and  stood  in  front  of  her, 
she  looking  up  at  him,  with  white  lips. 

"  Mother,"  he  said,  speaking  with  a  distinct  slowness,  in 
strange  contrast  with  his  habitual  manner,  "  tell  me  the  truth, 
that  I  may  know  how  to  act," 

He  paused  a  moment,  and  then  said,  *'  Who  is  my  father  ?  " 

She  was  mute  :  her  lips  only  trembled.  Harold  stood  silent 
for  a  few  moments,  as  if  waiting.     Then  he  spoke  again. 

"  He  has  said  —  said  it  before  others  —  that  he  is  my 
father." 

He  looked  still  at  his  mother.  She  seemed  as  if  age  were 
striking  her  with  a  sudden  wand  —  as  if  her  trembling  face 
were  getting  haggard  before  him.  She  was  mute.  But  her 
eyes  had  not  fallen ;  they  looked  up  iu  helpless  misery  at 
her  son. 

Her  son  turned  away  his  eyes  from  her,  and  left  her.  In 
that  moment  Harold  felt  hard  :  he  could  show  no  pity.  All 
the  pride  of  his  nature  rebelled  against  his  souship. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

Nay,  faiter  not —  't  is  an  assured  good 
To  seek  tilt'  iidhlest  —  't  is  void-  only  good 
Now  Villi  have  seen  il  ;  for  that  higher  vision 
Poisons  all  meaner  ehoice  foreverniore. 

That  day  Esther  dined  with  old  Mr.  Transome  only.  Har- 
old sent  word  that  he  was  engaged  and  had  already  dined,  and 
]Mrs.  Transome  tliat  she  was  feeling  ill.  Esther  was  much 
disappointed  that  any  tidings  Harold  might  have  brought 
relating  to  Felix  were  deferred  in  this  way  ;  and,  her  anxiety 
making  her  fearful,  she  vras  haunted  by  the  thought  tliat  if 
there  had  been  anything  cheering  to  tell,  he  would  have  found 
time  to  tell  it  without  delay.  Old  jMr.  Transome  went  as 
usual   to  his  sofa  iu  the  library  to   sleep  after  dinner,  and 


474  FELIX   HOLT,    THE    RADICAL. 

Esther  had  to  seat  herself  in  the  small  drawing-room,  in  a 
well-lit  solitude  that  was  unusually  dispiriting  to  her.  Pretty 
as  this  room  was,  she  did  not  like  it.  Mrs.  Transome's  full- 
length  portrait,  being  the  only  jjicture  there,  urged  itself  too 
strongly  on  her  attention :  the  youthfid  brilliancy  it  repre- 
sented saddened  Esther  by  its  inevitable  assoeiation  with  what 
she  daily  saw  had  come  instead  of  it  —  a  joyless,  embittered 
age.  The  sense  that  Mrs.  Trunsome  was  unhappy,  affected 
Esther  more  and  more  deeply  as  tlie  growing  familiarity  which 
relaxed  th<:^  efforts  of  the  hostess  revealed  more  and  more 
the  threadbare  tissue  of  tliis  majestic  lady"s  life.  Even 
the  flf)W(^i's  and  the  pure  sunshine  and  the  sweet  v/aters  of 
Paradise  would  have  been  spoiled  for  a  young  heart,  if  tlie 
bowered  walks  had  been  haunted  b}"  an  Eve  gone  gray  with 
bitter  memorii'S  of  an  Adam  avIio  had  coinplained,  "  The 
woman  .  .  .  she  gave  me  of  the  tree,  and  I  did  eat."  And 
many  of  us  know  how.  even  in  our  childhood,  some  blank  dis- 
contented face  on  the  l)aekground  of  our  home  has  marred  our 
summer  mornings.  ^Vhy  was  it,  when  the  birds  were  singing, 
when  tlie  f'udds  were  a  gardf-n,  and  wlien  we  were  clasping 
another  little  hand  just  larger  tlian  our  own,  there  was  some- 
body wild  fi)und  it  hard  to  smile  ?  Esther  had  got  far  beyond 
that  chiMhood  tu  a  tinie  and  cireumstanees  when  this  daily 
pri'sence  of  ehe-i'ly  dissatisfaction  amidst  surh  outward  things 
as  slie  liad  always  thought  must  greatly  ladp  to  satisfy, 
awaked,  net  mei'ely  vagui'  questioning  euK^tion.  but  sti'ouL; 
determining  thought.  And  now.  in  tliese  huirrs  since  her 
return  from  T>oamford,  her  mind  was  in  that  state  of  highly 
wi'ought  aetivity.  that  large  discourse,  in  'vliich  we  seem  te 
stand  aloef  from  nur  own  life  —  W!'ighi:i-:  impai-fially  our  own 
temptations  anrl  the  weak  desires  tliat  most  habitually  solicit 
us.  '■' T  tliink  T  am  getting  that  power  i'^'lix  wished  me  to 
liave:  r  shall  soon  see  stroiiq;  visions."'  she  saiil  to  liers'df. 
^vith  a  melanrholy  siiiile  ilitting  aci'oss  hru-  face,  as  she  ])ut 
(Hit  the  wax  lights  I'aat  she  mi-dit  g'  t  ri(l  oi  the  oppressive 
urgency  of  walls  n.nd  uphf)lstery  ainl  chat  ])oi'trait  snuling 
with  deluded  bi'ightness.  unwittiiig  of  tlu?  future. 

Just  then  Dominic  came  to  sav  that  ]Mr.  Harold  sent  hia 


compliments,  and  begged  that  slio  would  grant  liim  an  inter- 
view in  lus  study,  lie  disliked  the  small  drawing-room:  if 
she  would  oldige  him  hy  going  to  tlie  study  at  once,  lie  would 
join  her  very  soon.  Esther  went,  in  S(jme  wonder  and  anx- 
it'ty.  "What  slu>  most  i>'.!Vt'!l  or  ho^jed  in  these  moments 
related  to  Felix  Holt,  and  it  did  ni)t  oeeur  to  her  that  Harold 
:;ould  have  anything  special  to  say  to  her  that  evening  on  other 
suojeets. 

Certaindy  the  study  was  pleasanter  than  the  small  drawing- 
rooni.  A  quiet  light  shone  on  nothing  but  greenness  and  dark 
wood,  and  Dominic  had  jilaeed  a  delightful  chair  for  her  o])po- 
site  to  liis  master's,  whi;di  was  still  empty.  All  tlie  little 
objects  of  luxury  jiround  indicated  Hiirold's  habitual  occu- 
pancy; and  as  Esther  sat  o}!})Osite  all  these  things  along  with 
tlu^  eni})ty  chair  which  suggested  the  coming  presence,  the 
expt'Ctation  of  his  beseeching  homage  brought  Avith  it  an  im- 
patience and  re}>uguance  wlii'.di  she  had  never  felt  before. 
While  these  feedings  were  strongl}"  upon  her,  the  door  opened 
and  Harold  a|)pc;ired. 

He  had  recovcfcd  his  self-possession  since  his  interview  with 
his  motiier :  he  had  dressed  and  was  perfeetly  calm.  He  had 
IxH'u  occupied  v,-ith  I'csoluti!  thoughts,  determining  to  do  what 
lie  knew  tiiat  iperfect  lionor  demanded,  let  it  cost  him  what  it 
would.  It  is  true  he  had  a  tacit  hope  behind,  that  it  might 
not  cost  iiim  what  he  prized  most  higlily  :  it  is  true  he  had 
a  glimpse  even  of  reward;  but  it  -was  not  less  true  that  he 
^^■ould  have-,  acted  as  lie  did  without  that  la i]. cor  glimpse,  li 
was  the  most  s^'rious  moment  in  Harold  Traiisoiae"s  life ;  for 
the  lirst  tiuu>  tiie  iron  had  entere.l  into  his  souh  and  lie  feli 
the  hard  piressure  of  our  comna^n  lot,  tiie  yoke  of  tliat  mighty 
iTsistless  destiny  laid  uj'Oii  us  by  tlio  ;icts  of  other  men  as 
well  as  our  own. 

When  E-tlier  iooked  at  him  sbic  relented,  and  felt  ashamed 
of  her  gratuitous  impatiea-e.  She  savr  that  Ids  raimi  was  in 
soaie  way  bu.rdenud.  Ihir  theti  immediately  s}ii'ang  the  dread 
tliat  he  liad  to  say  soiiietliin;;  honeh^s^  about  I'^ebx. 

'I'liey  Riiook  hauil-^  in  sii  ■!:!■=■.  E^di.-;'  lookiiig  at  hiai  with 
a;. -.lions  surjinse.     He  releasr'd  lier  hand,  bul  it  diil  ii'^t  ojcui' 


476  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

to  her  to  sit  down,  and  they  both  continued  standing  on  the 

hearth. 

"  Don't  let  me  alarm  you,"  said  Harold,  seeing  that  her  face 
gathered  solemnity  from  his.  '•  I  suitpose  I  carry  the  marks 
of  a  past  agitation.  It  relates  entirely  to  troubles  of  my  own 
—  of  my  own  family.     Xo  one  beyond  is  invohx'd  in  them." 

Esther  wondered  still  more,  and  felt  still  more  relenting. 

*'  But,"  said  Harold,  after  a  slight  jjause,  and  in  a  voice  that 
was  weighted  with  new  feeling,  '-'it  involves  a  difference  in 
m.y  position  with  regard  to  you ;  and  it  is  on  this  point  that 
I  wished  to  speak  to  you  at  once.  When  a  jnan  sees  what 
ought  to  be  done,  he  had  better  do  it  forthwith.  He  can't 
answer  for  himself  to-morrow." 

While  Esther  continued  to  look  at  him,  wuth  eyes  widened 
by  anxious  expectation,  Harold  turned  a  little,  leaned  on  the 
mantel-piece,  and  ceased  to  look  at  her  as  he  spoke. 

"  jMy  feelings  drag  me  another  way.  I  need  not  tell  you 
that  your  regard  has  become  very  important  to  me  —  that  if 
our  mutual  }iosition  had  Ijecn  different — that,  in  sliort,  you 
must  have  seen  —  if  it  had  not  seemed  to  be  a  matter  of 
worldly  interest,  I  sliould  hav(;  told  you  plainly  already  that  I 
loved  you,  and  that  my  happiness  could  be  complete  only  if 
you  would  consent  to  marry  me." 

Esther  ff'lt  her  heart  begimdng  to  beat  painfully.  Harold's 
voice  and  words  moved  her  so  much  that  her  own  task  seemed 
more  diffir'ult  tlian  she  had  1>"'fore  im.agined.  It  sceip.efl  as  if 
the  silence,  unb'roken  l)y  anything  biit  the  C;irkii,p  cf  the  in-e, 
had  been  long,  before  Harold  turned  round  towards  her  again 
and  said  — 

"  But  to-da_y  I  have  heard  something  that  affect^^  ray  own 
position.  I  ca::Mot  tell  you  what  it  is.  Tiiere  is  no  need.  It 
is  not  any  culpability  of  my  ov.-n.  But  I  have  not  just  the 
same  unsulliei]  name  and  fame  in  the  eyes  of  the  world 
around  us,  as  I  ''clievrd  tliat  1  hail  when  I  allowefl  myself  to 
enterta/i..  uhat  :  .  h  ab^ut  yoi  You  are  very  ,'oung,  entering 
on  a  fresh  liff;  with  Iji-igiit  ,,.osr>ects  —  you  a;f  worthy  of 
everytliing  that  is  ii.-t.  I  m.,y  .  •  too  vain  in  thi'^king  i^ 
ivas    at    all    necessary  ;     bi.t    I    tnke    tnis    precuv.tioL.    .-^•••aius. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  477 

myself.  I  shut  myself  out  from  the  chance  of  trying,  after 
to-day,  to  intiuce  you  to  accept  anything  which  others  may 
regard  as  specked  and  stained  by  any  obloquy,  however 
blight.-' 

Esther  was  keenly  touched.  With  a  paradoxical  longing, 
such  as  often  happens  to  us,  she  wished  at  that  moment  that 
she  could  have  loved  this  man  with  her  whole  heart.  The 
tears  came  into  her  eyes  ;  she  did  not  speak,  but,  with  an 
angel's  tenderness  in  her  face,  she  laid  her  hand  on  his  sleeve. 
Harold  commanded  himself  strongly,  and  said  — 

"  What  is  to  be  done  now  is,  that  we  should  proceed  at  once 
to  the  ne(;essary  legal  measures  for  putting  you  in  possession 
of  your  own,  and  arranging  mutual  claims.  After  that  I  shall 
probably  leave  England."' 

Estlier  was  0])pressed  by  an  overpowering  difficulty.  Her 
sympathy  with  Harold  at  this  moment  was  so  strong,  that  it 
s})vead  itself  like  a  mist  over  all  previous  thought  and  re- 
solve. It  was  impossible  now  to  wound  him  afresh.  With 
her  hand  still  resting  on  his  arm,  she  said,  timidly  — 

''Should  you  Ite  urged — obliged  to  go  —  in  any  case  ?" 

*'  Xot  in  every  case,  perha})S,"'  Harold  said,  with  an  evident 
movement  of  the  blood  towards  his  face ;  "  at  least  not  for 
long,  not  for  always." 

Esther  was  conscious  of  the  gleam  in  his  e^^es.  With 
terror  at  lierseli .  she  said,  in  difficult  haste,  '•  I  can't  speak.  I 
can't  say  anything  to-night.  A  great  decision  has  to  be  made: 
I  must  Willi — till  to-morrow."' 

She  was  moving  her  harid  from  his  arm,  when  Harold  took 
it  vcvi'i'entially  arid  raised  it  to  his  lips.  She  turned  towards 
her  chair,  and  as  lu^  reli'a<ed  lifr  hand  she  sank  down  on  the 
seal,  with  a  srn.-,u  tliat  sli(>  needed  that  sii|i]iort.  She  did  not 
want  t(.)  go  away  from  Harold  \-et.  All  tlie  wlule  there  was 
something  siie  neeiled  to  knf'W,  anal  yet  sIk^  could  not  bring 
herself  to  ask  it.  She  must  I'l^i^-n  herself  to  depend  entirely 
(111  his  reee-lleclion  oi'  anyliiiiiu-  beyond  his  own  immediate 
trial.  She  sat  hel}>less  uiuler  contending  sym]Kit]iies,  while 
liarold  fsteiM.l  at  some  distanee  from  her.  feeling  more 
La.TiSSCL;    by    "weariuej^s    and    uncertainty,    now    tiiut    he    had 


478  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

.fulfilled  his  resolve,  and  Avas  uu  longer  under  the  exciteineu** 
of  actually  fultilling  it. 

Esther's  last  Avords  had  forbidden  his  revival  of  the  subject 
that  Avas  neeessarih-  supreme  Avitli  him.  But  still  she  sat 
there,  and  his  mind,  busy  as  to  the  })robabilities  of  lier  feeling, 
glanced  over  all  she  had  done  and  said  in  the  later  days  of 
their  intercourse.  It  Avas  this  retrospect  that  led  him  to  say 
at  last  — 

''  You  will  be  glad  to  hear  tliat  Ave  sliall  get  a  A'cry  poAver- 
fully  signed  memorial  to  tlui  Home  St'cretaiy  about  j'oung 
Holt.  1  tliiiik  your  speahiijg  i\ir  him  ]n_'lped  a  great  deal. 
You  made  all  the  men  Avish  wliat  you  Avishcd." 

This  was  \vh;it  Esther  b;:d  been  ^-cariiing  to  bear  and  dared 
not  ask,  as  Avell  from  rospi;Ct  for  IFiux-l'l's  absorption  in  Ids 
OAvn  sorrow,  CiS  from  tb;.'  shrinking  tiiat  l.-elongs  to  our  dearest 
need.  Tlie  inti-nso  relief  of  her.ring  wlu^t  t-b-/  loiigvd  to  hear, 
aifected  her  Avhoie  frame:  her  color,  lier  exp-ression,  changed 
as  if  slie  bad  l)ecn  suddeidy  freed  from  some  torturing  con- 
straint. lUit  Ave  iiitv'rpret  signs  of  (^nu'tion  as  Ave  interpret 
otlier  signs  —  often  (pibe  erroneously,  unb'ss  we  have  tbe 
right  key  to  Av]i;;t  tliey  sigiiify.  Ilai'old  did  not  gatbcr  tliat 
this  Avas  Avhat  Esrher  bad  Avaited  bu',  or  t]i;;t  tlie  change  in 
lier  indicated  more  tlian  he  bad  expected  bcr  to  feel  at  tins 
albusion  to  an  uiuisual  act  which  she  jjad  done  under  a  strung 
inipvdse. 

]5esides  the  inir^idvivlion  of  a  new  s-idnert  v.iivv  very  mouien- 
bnis  AV("}r:]s  ];;ive  ]r>.s<rd,  au'l  are  stibi  dw'Mbiig'  (m  tbr  n;nid. 
is  nri:'r\-:.s;!rilA-  a,  soi't  of  c.aicussion.  sjiaki:ig  us  into  a  new 
ailjustni'-ut  i)i'  oursi'l  \'''S. 

It  sifiiici]  iK'.bai'e.l  tbat  foon  afterwe.rd  Esther  ] ait  out  her 
hand  and   r;bd,  '•  (biod-nigi!-."" 

Harold  A'.ciu  to  iiis  iw.,b'(iom  on  tbe  sam(>  IcA^el  Avitb  las 
study,  tiiiiiidng  '■!'  t]:e  m;irp.i;ig  Aviti!  en  un(/ert:!inty  tli;it 
dippeil  on  tla;  si.b'  w!'  liv,],/.  Tbis  svvcrt  Avojnan.  for  wJiom  lie 
felt  a  jwssion  n.-w-s'  lb.:n  .-Miy  b.;-  ba^l  .-xuected  to  feel,  might 
]j''S:dbly  laaki.'  soi;;"  b::;il  tibnig^  Uiure  bvaraljle  —  if  she  IovihI 
him.  If  ii()t--wc'lb  be  :;:;'i  ;ir't,_'ii  ^f)  tbat  he  could  defy  any 
oii>.   lo  s;iy   he  av:io  no!   cV  g.-utb-man. 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE   KADICAL.  479 

Esther  w^nix,  i;., -stairs  to  her  bedroom,  thinking  that  she 
shoiihl  not  sleep  that  nii;'iit.  She  set  her  light  on  a  high 
stand,  and  did  not  tonch  her  dress.  Wdiat  she  desired  to  see 
with  undistnrl)ed.  clearness  ^yevQ  things  not  present :  the  rest 
she  needs/d  was  the  ?v?i;  of  a  tlnal  choice.  It  was  diiiicuit. 
On  eai'h  side  there  was  renunciation. 

She  dr^'W  up  her  blinds,  lildng  to  see  the  gray  sky,  where 
there  were  some  vtdled  gli:n;nerings  of  moonlight,  and  the 
lines  ol'  the  forever  vnnn.iug  i'iver,  and  the  Ijending  nnovemeut 
of  the  hlaek  trees.  She  v/anted  the  largeness  of  the  world 
to  helj)  jiL-r  fhonglit.  This  young  creature,  who  trod  lightly 
backward  and  forward,  and  leaned  against  the  v.-inuow-frame, 
and  shook  back  her  brown  curls  as  she  looked  at  something 
not  visi''l'\  h.ad  lived  Iiarddy  more  than  six  months  since  she 
saw  Fvdix  li(_>io  for  the  first  time.  r>nt  life  is  measured  by 
the  raiji'lity  of  char.ge,  the  succession,  of  influences  that  modify 
tlie  f>td]i:;  ;  and  l■^■^t!;vr  had  undergone  something  little  short 
of  an  inv.'ard  revclutiia!.  The  revolutionary  struggle,  however, 
was  n')t  (piirc'  at  an  end. 

Then'  was  soni' thing'  Avhich  slie  now  felt  profoucndly  to  be 
the  l):.'st  tiung  I'uit  life  could,  '.dve  iier.  Dut  —  if  it  \s'as  to  be 
luul  ;it,  al' — it  ^^  as  not  t>)  bo  had  v/ithout  |)aying  a  heavy 
p:ii'!;  ''.'•IV  it,  :  u:  i:  as  we  'li'uis'c  ['cy  iirc  all  tli;:t  is  greatly  good. 
A  suii.i:;,.''  f:vig  ;;,  n;';t:vf  ihat  givi'S  a  sublime  rhythm  to  a 
\\. 'man's  lif;'.  and  cxaks  hnlat  into  lartnersiii;)  with  the  sonVs 

hi-li-l:    a ^^.  b;  Ui'L   ^m    i.'hcd.  wb.;?.^  ;;nd   how  she  wills  :  to 

ku./.v  tii.,*:  !b;.b;  i;br:::'-'  a),  si:e  )n;ist  (bren  iread  where  it  is 
JKird  \-.  :".-pb  ;;ed  ;'.■.;  ^^:•  Hidl  ;br.  cad  w.bch  through  dark- 
n;'ss.  Ig  b-;  '^  :•  b'U'  ;b,:''  :.  iv"'  iaai^'<  el!  Ibiiigseasy.  i'  m.dces 
us  cb'  I'St-  •::]::,'  ;-;  ili!b;':,b".  !'.  'b;  i'b;  ,^Vi-\'i"\i:i  iii;>  had  brought 
her  into  cbi-'"  I'-ouaina  :!!■,_'  \\b,ii  ni  .iiv  Ui'gations.  a!id  with 
nain\'  ;:0:bL;v>'  bb;  too.  not  '.■':^  xiy  c-atol^-  jtaiid'ul.  but  oi'  the 
dist;is*oful  sou  Wlait.  i  I'  >bo  oluir^,'  ib"  i;ard>hiii,  an.di  laid  to 
bo;;r  ^ !]  "buie.  '.'bid'  no  ^rriai';i  li  to  ■■  iu  uoon  — no  ntlicr  better 
s.bf  f  ■  laab^  a  nbifc  luv  'ri.c  :;nl  ji'V  ?  Ht-r  |i-si  .'Xoorience 
savi'd  her  ir'  la  iiiasloic^.  S'.  ■  l^now  tho  diai  lib'  of  the  back 
street,  tbo  r.'nra't  witii  '■:-'.''•'  \-ub>-;irity.  tb-'  i;:i'b  of  refin(^- 
m(M\t   b)L'  tb'-  ..o'lso.s,  tlio   .^uiau'uns  to  a  duuy  task;  and  thf^ 


480  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   EADICAL. 

gain  that  was  to  make  that  life  of  privation  something  ou 
which  she  dreaded  to  turn  her  back,  as  if  it  were  heaven  — 
the  presence  and  the  love  of  Felix  Holt  —  was  only  a  quiv- 
ering hope,  not  a  certainty.  It  was  not  in  her  woman's 
niture  that  the  hope  should  not  spring  within  her  and  make 

strong  impulse.  She  kncAV  that  he  loved  her  :  had  he  not 
aid  how  a  woman  might  help  a  man  if  she  were  Avorthy  ? 
ind  if  she  proved  herself  worthy  ?  But  still  there  was  the 
dread  that  after  all  she  might  find  herself  on  the  stony  road 
alone,  and  faint  and  be  weary.  Even  with  the  fulfilment 
of  her  hope,  she  knew  that  she  pledged  herself  to  meet  high 
demands. 

And  on  the  other  side  there  was  a  lot  where  everything 
seemed  easy  —  but  for  the  fatal  absence  of  those  feelings 
which,  now  she  had  once  known  them,  it  seemed  nothing  less 
than  a  fall  and  a  degradation  to  do  without.  "With  a  terrible 
prescience  which  a  multitude  of  impressions  during  her  stay 
at  Transome  Court  had  contributed  to  form,  she  saw  herself 
in  a  silken  bondage  that  arrested  all  motive,  and  was  nothing 
better  than  a  well-cushioned  despair.  To  be  restless  amidst 
ease,  to  be  languid  among  all  appliances  for  pleasure,  was  a 
possibility  that  seemed  to  haunt  the  rooms  of  this  house,  and 
wander  with  her  under  the  oaks  and  elms  of  the  park.  And 
Harold  Transome's  love,  no  longer  a  hovering  fancy  with  which 
she  played,  but  become  a  serious  fact,  seemed  to  threaten  her 
with  a  stifling  oppression.  Tlie  homage  of  a  man  may  be 
delightful  until  he  asks  straight  for  love,  by  which  a  woman 
renders  homage.  Since  she  and  Felix  had  kissed  each  otlifr 
in  the  prison,  she  felt  ^^s  if  she  had  vowed  lierself  away,  as  if 
memory  lay  on  hor  li})S  like  a  seal  of  possc'ssion.  Yet  what 
had  happened  tliat  very  evening  had  sti-eugtheued  her  liking 
for  Harold,  and  her  care  for  all  tliat  regarded  him  :  it  had  in- 
creased her  rejjugnance  to  turning  h'uii  out  of  anything  he  had 
expected  to  be  his,  or  to  snatching  ;in}"thing  from  liim  on  the 
ground  of  an  arbitrary  claim.  It  had  even  made  her  dread, 
as  a  coming  pain,  the  task  of  saying  anything  to  him  that  was 
not  a  promise  of  the  utmcjst  ceaufort  under  this  newly  disclosed 
trouble  of  his. 


FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  481 

It  was  already  near  midnight,  but  'vvith  these  thoughts  suc- 
ceediijg  and  returning  in  lier  mind  like  scenes  through  which 
she  was  living,  Estlier  had  a  more  intense  wakefulness  than 
any  she  had  known  by  day.  All  had  been  stillness  hitherto, 
except  tlie  litiul  wind  outside.  But  her  ears  now  caught  a 
sound  witiiin  —  slight,  but  sudden.  She  moved  near  her  door, 
and  hi-ard  the  sweep  of  somc^thing  on  the  matting  outside. 
It  came  closer,  and  paused.  Then  it  began  again,  and  seemed 
to  sv.-eep  awa}'  from  lnn\  Then  it  approached,  and  paused  as 
it  had  done  before.  Esther  listened,  wondering.  The  same 
thing  hap})ened  again  and  ag;iin,  till  she  could  bear  it  no 
longer.  She  opened  her  door,  and  in  the  dim  light  of  the  cor- 
ridor, where  the  glass  alcove  seemed  to  make  a  glimmering 
sky,  she  saw  ]\Irs.  Transoiues  tall  figure  pacing  slowly,  with 
her  cheek  upon  her  hand. 


CHAPTER  L. 

TlicgTiat  qnosfioii  in  liff^  i?;  the  siifferhin:  wecau?e;  and  the  utmost  !n. 

pfiiuii\  ('I'  niei:iiilivs!cs  i.aii;;(:!  ju-tify  the  iiuui  who  lia.s  jiicrccJ  the  licart  tliat 
lo^uii  iiiiii  — 1ji;n.ja,>iin  Ccin>-;ant. 

^Vlw:^■  'Deniier  had.  gone  up  to  her  mistress's  room  to  dress 
hc-r  lor  d.iii:i'  r,  slie  l;;!'i  i'ouiid  iier  seated  jii>l  ;;s  Harold  had 
:'(.r,i;(!  ]nv.  (.'.i]y  A\'il]i  rvrlids  dro(j[iing  and  tr. -milling  over 
;:l;''Aly  rtilliiiL;-  tears  ~- ii:i}'.  "with  a  face  in  wliieli  every  sen- 
sitive f;-u.ure.  (>v(My  niu^ele,  seemed  to  be  quivering  with  a 
silent  endiiranee  of  some  auoiiy. 

]>euiier  \vr\]t  aud  siund  1  ly  til''  eliair  a  miinite  without 
sper.kiii'j-.  only  laying  liei-  bind  '^i-ntly  on  ^Mi's.  I'ransome's. 
At  la-t  sill'  said,  beseeeliingly.  ••  I'ray,  speak,  madam.  What 
has  liajii-n'Ml  ?  " 

"'idle  worst.  Denner  —  tlie-  worst.'' 

*^'  Ton  ai'e  ill.     J^et  me  uudr<'ss  yt.ui,  and  put  you  to  bed." 

"i^OL      III.  31 


482  FELIX   HOLT,    THE   RADICAL. 

'''  'So,  I  aiR  not  ill.  I  am  not  going  to  die  !  I  shall  live  — 
I  shall  live  !  " 

"  ^Vhat  may  I  do  ?  " 

"  Go  and  say  I  shall  not  dine.     Then  you  may  come  back, 

if  you  will." 

The  patient  Vv'aiting-woman  came  back  and  sat  by  her  mis- 
tress in  motionless  silence.  Mrs.  Transome  would  not  let  her 
dress  be  touched,  and  waved  away  all  };roffers  with  a  slight 
movement  of  her  hand.  Dcnner  dared  not  ev(ui  light  a  candle 
without  being  told.  At  last,  when  the  evening  was  far  gone, 
Mrs.  Tran.soine  said  — 

^'  Go  dov.'n,  Denner,  and  find  out  where  Harold  is,  and  come 
bach  and  tell  me." 

'■'Sliall  I  ask  iiim  to  come  to  you,  madam.  ?'■ 
"Xo;  don't  dare  to  do  it,  if  you  love,  me.     Come  back." 
Denner  brought  word  tluit  ^,h\  Harold  was  in  his  study,  and 
that  Miss  Lyon  was  v.ith  him.     He  had  not  dined,  but  had 
sent  later  to  ,isk  .Miss  L}'on  to  go  into  his  study. 
"Liglit  the  eii;idh-s  and  leave  me." 
■'.Mayn't  I  (•■ome  again?" 

'•Xo.     It  ;iiay  b--  tluit  my  son  will  come  to  me." 
'•'Mayn't  I  sle'c])  on  the  little  bed  in  ycjur  bedroom?** 
''Xo,  good  Di.MiJUir;  I  am  not  Hi.     You  can't  help  me." 
''T];at''s  tlu;  h:ij''lest  word  of  rCi],  madfun." 
'•'i1k:  tinr:;  v/ili  er,iiie  —  l)ut  not  nov/.      Kiss  me.     Now  go." 
Tjic  siu''Ti  ''jiiU't  old  v.-oiiiai)  ehi'\,'(h  as  slio  liad  always  done. 
Slic   sj;r:uik    irf;m  seeming   to  elaim  an  equal's  share   in  her 
mistress":,  S"!'i-ow. 

Yor  iv.'o  iiO'iirs  3Trs.  'i'r;inso]iie's  mind  Inmg  on  what  was 
hai'dly  ;i,  iio; i^' - -- iirirdly  more  than  tlK'  li'-tening  for  a  bare 
[)0ssi!;ilii3'.  Slie  bi"_;.in  to  crefitc;  t].e  sor(nils  that  ]ier  anguish 
era\'c(l  to  ]i"''.r  —  i)<"4',<n  to  ii]';i;.';iue  u  I'ootl';!]],  and  a.  liMiid  ujion 
tlie  door.  Tliea,  ehr  eke;i  !,y  ef;;;tinual  (]isa]>point]i!ent,  she 
trii'd  to  I'Oiise  a  truer  eoie;rioa,;iif"^s  bj-  risiijg  from  ]ier  seat 
and  v.'aiking  to  her  wind,- vi.  Avhcre  she  sav,-  streaks  of  light 
moving  and  disa})pearing  on  tie;  L^-ra.ss,  and  liora'd  the  sound  of 
Ijo'lts  and  e'Ujsing  dooi's.  Slie  hui'rieo  ;i',\-;iy  and  tljrew  hersell 
into   her   seat  again,   and   Ijiuied   her   nead   in   the   deafening 


FELIX   ilOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  483 

down  of  the  cushions.  There  was  no  sound  of  comfort  for 
her. 

Then  her  heart  cried  out  wdthin  her  against  the  cruelty  of 
this  son.  When  he  turned  from  her  in  the  hrst  moment,  he 
had  not  had  time  to  feel  anything  but  the  blow  that  had  fallen 
on  himself.  But  afterwards  —  was  it  possible  that  he  should 
not  be  touched  with  a  son's  pity  —  was  it  possible  that  he 
should  not  have  been  visited  by  some  thought  of  the  long 
years  through  which  she  had  suffered  ?  The  memory  of  those 
years  came  back  to  her  now  with  a  protest  against  the  cruelty 
that  had  all  fallen  on  her.  She  started  up  witli  a  new  rest- 
lessness from  this  spirit  of  resistance.  She  v/as  not  penitent. 
She  had  borne  too  hard  a  punishment.  Always  the  edge  of 
eahimity  had  fallmi  on  Iter.  Who  had  felt  for  her?  She  was 
desolate.  God  had  no  pity,  else  her  son  would  not  have  been 
so  hard.  AVhat  dreary  future  v;;:s  tliere  after  this  dreary  past? 
She,  too.  l()ok(Ml  out  into  tlie  dim  niglit  ;  but  the  black  boun- 
dary of  trees  and  the  long  line  of  the  river  seemed  only  part 
of  the  loneliness  and  monotony  of  her  life. 

Suililcniv  slie  saw  a  light  on  the  stone  balustrades  of  the 
bai<'ony  that  jirojected  in  front  of  Estlier's  window,  and  the 
Bash  of  a  moving  candle  falling  on  a  shrub  below.  Esther 
was  still  riwake  and  up.  What  had  Tlarold  toi.d  her  —  what 
had  ])asstMl  betweiMi  them  ?  ITarold  was  for.d  of  tliis  3'oung 
ercature,  wlio  had  l)!'en  always  sweet  and  revenmtial  to  hei'. 
There  v,-as  mercy  in  her  young  heart;  she  might  ho  a  daugliter 
wlio  had  no  imimlse  to  punish  and  to  strike  her  wliom  fa.te 
had  sla'icken.  On  tli(^  ilim  loneliness  ])efore  her  slie  seemed  to 
see  I'ilstlier's  genth^  look;  it  was  posdblt^  still  that  the  misei'V 
of  this  r.iglit  might  b(^  broken  by  some  comfort.  The  ])roud 
'woman  yearned  for  the  caressing  jiity  that  iiiVisfc  dvrell  in  that 
young  bosom.  She  open(Ml  h^r  de(,r  gently.  Imt  when  she  had 
I'eaehed  Esther's  she  hesitated.  Slie  l;;i,d.  never  yet  in  her  life 
asked  for  compassion  —  had  never  tlirown  herself  in  faith  on 
an  unproffm'ed  love.  Autl  she  might  have  gone  on  pacing  the 
corrid.or  like  an  uneasy  spirit  without  a  goal,  if  Esthei-'s 
tliought,  leaping  towards  her,  had  not  saved  her  from  the 
need  to  ask  admission. 


484  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

Mrs.  Transome  was  walking  towards  the  door  when  it 
opened.  As  Esther  saw  that  image  of  restless  misery,  it  blent 
itself  by  a  rapid  flash  with  all  that  Harold  had  said  in  the 
evening.  She  divined  that  the  son's  new  trouble  must  be  one 
with  the  mother's  long  sadness.  But  there  was  no  waiting. 
Tn  an  instant  ]\Lrs.  Transome  felt  Esther's  arm  round  her  neck; 
raid  a  voice  saying  softly  — 

"Oh.  why  didn't  j'ou  call  me  before  ?" 

They  turned  hand  and  hand  into  the  room,  and  sat  down 
together  on  a  sofa  at  the  foot  of  the  bed.  The  disordered  gray 
hair — the  haggard  face  —  the  reddened  eyelids  under  which 
the  tears  seemed  to  be  coming  again  with  pain,  pierced  Esther 
to  the  heart.  A  passionate  desire  to  soothe  this  suffering 
woman  came  over  her.  She  clung  round  her  again,  and  kissed 
her  poor  quivering  lips  and  eyelids,  and  laid  her  young  cheek 
against  the  pale  and  haggard  one.  Words  could  not  be  quick 
or  strong  enough  to  utter  her  yearning.  As  Mrs.  Transome 
felt  that  soft  clinging,  she  said  — 

"  God  has  some  pity  on  me." 

''Best  on  my  bed."  said  Esther.  "You  are  so  tired.  I  will 
iover  you  up  warmly,  and  then  you  will  sleep." 

"  No  —  tell  me,  dear  —  tell  me  what  Harold  said." 

"That  he  has  had  some  new  trouble." 

"He  said  nothing  hard  about  me  ?" 

"Xo  —  nothing.     He  did  not  mention  you," 

"I  have  been  an  unhappy  woman,  dear." 

"T  feared  if."  said  Esther,  pressing  her  gently. 

'Ofen  are  selfish.  They  are  selfish  and  cruel.  What  they 
care  for  is  their  own  pleasure  and  their  own  pride,''" 

"Xot  all,"  said  Esther,  on  whom  these  words  fell  with  a 
painful  jar. 

"  All  I  have  ever  loved,"  s:nd  IVFrs.  Ti-ansome.  She  paused 
a  moment  or  two.  and  then  said,  '•  l'^)i'  nioir  tlian  twenty  years 
I  have  not  had  an  hour's  happiness.  Harold  knows  it,  and 
yet  he  is  hard  to  me."' 

"He  will  not  be.  To-morrow  he  will  not  be.  I  am  sure  he 
will  be  good.''  said  Esther.  ])leadino-ly.  "Remember  —  he 
said  to  me  his  trouble  was  new  —  he  has  not  had  time" 


FELTX    HOLT,    THE   RADICAL.  48.") 

"It  is  too  hard  to  bear,  dear,"  Mrs.  Transome  said,  a  new 
sob  rising  as  she  clung  fast  to  Esther  in  return.  ''I  am  old, 
and  expect  so  little  no\\'  —  a  very  little  thing  would  seem 
great.     ^Vhy  should  I  l)e  punished  any  more  ?  "' 

Esther  found  it  diilicult  to  speak.  The  dimly  suggested 
tragedy  of  this  winjiau's  life,  the  dreary  waste  of  }  ears  empty 
of  sweet  trust  and  affection,  afflicted  her  even  to  horroi'.  It 
seemed  to  have  come  as  a  last  vision  to  urge  her  towards  the 
life  where  the  draughts  of  joy  sprang  from  the  unchanging 
fountains  of  revcriuice  and  devout  love. 

])ut  all  the  more  she  longed  to  still  the  pain  of  this  heart 
tliat  beat  against  liers. 

"Do  let  me  go  to  your  own  room  with  you,  and  let  me  un- 
dress you,  and  let  nie  tend  upon  you,"'  she  said,  with  a  woman's 
gimtle  instinct.  •'•  It  will  be  a  ver}"  great  thing  to  me.  I  shall 
seem  to  have  a  motlier  again.     Do  let  me." 

^Irs.  Transom'^  yielded  at  last,  and  let  Esther  soothe  her 
with  a  daughter's  tendam-e.  She  was  undressed  and  went  to 
bed  ;  and  at  last  dozed  Htfuliy,  with  frerpient  starts.  But 
Esther  watched  by  lier  till  the  chills  of  morning  came,  and 
then  she  only  wra])|)ed  more  warmth  around  her,  and  slept 
fa>t  in  tlie  cliair  till  Denner's  movement  in  the  room  roused 
lier.  SIi"  st.arted  out  ul'  a  dream  in  which  she  was  telling  Felix 
what  had  h;!}>pened  to  lier  that  night. 

Mrs.  'J'lMnsoiue  was  nov,-  in  tlie  soinider  morning  sleep  which 
sometimes  e(nnes  after  a  long  uiglit  of  misery.  Esther  beck- 
oned Demi   r  into  tii  '  dvessing-rooiu,  and  said  — 

'■  lb  is  l;ite,  Mrs.  llickes.  Do  you  think  'Mr.  Harold  is  out  of 
his  ronni  ■.'  " 

'•  Ves.  a  loiv_;-  while;  lie  w;is  out  earlier  than  usual." 

'•  Will  you  ;i<k  liim  t'O  eiiiue  up  iiere  ?     Say  I  begged  you." 

Wiici  1  birei'd  ciitiTe'.i.  1^-1  IcT  was  le;Uiii!g  against  the  back 
oi  the  emply  eli;iii'  wlierr  yesterday  lie  l;;id  seen  ids  mutlier 
sitting,  ib'  wa^  iii  a  st,!!:'  (d  Avutider  ;ini!  su>ic!ae,  and  when 
Esther  aoproaehed  him  ani  g.v.'e  him  her  hand,  he  said,  in  a 
startleil  way  — 

••  Go()'l  (Joil  !  how  ill  you  look  I  Have  you  been  sitting  up 
wi;  h  my  mother  ;'  " 


480  FELIX   HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

"  Yes.  She  is  asleep  now,"  said  Esther.  They  had  merely 
pressed  hands  by  way  of  greeting,  and  now  stood  apart  look- 
ing at  each  other  solemnly. 

'^  Has  she  told  you  anything  ?  "  said  Harold. 

"Xo  —  only  that  she  is  Avretched.  Oh,  I  think  I  would 
bear  a  great  deal  of  unhappiness  to  save  her  from  iiaving  any 
more." 

A  painful  thrill  passed  through  Harold,  and  showed  itself 
in  his  face  with  that  pale  rapid  flasli  which  can  never  be 
painted.  Esther  pressed  lier  hands  together,  and  said,  timidly, 
though  it  was  from  an  urgent  prompting  — ■ 

"  There  is  nothing  in  all  this  place  —  nothing  since  ever 
I  came  here  —  I  could  care  for  so  much  as  that  you  should 
sit  down  l)y  her  now,  and  that  she  should  see  you  when  she 
wakes." 

Then  with  delicate  instinct,  she  added,  just  laying  her  hand 
on  his  sleeve,  "  I  know  you  would  have  come.  I  know  you 
meant  it.  But  she  is  asleep  now.  Go  gently  before  she 
wakes." 

Harold  just  Laid  his  right  hand  for  an  instant  on  the  back  of 
Esther's  as  it  rested  on  liis  sleeve,  and  then  stepped  softly  to 
his  mother's  bedside. 

An  hour  afterwards,  when  Harold  had  laid  his  mother's  pil- 
low afresli,  ami  sat  d(jwn  again  1)}'  her,  she  said  — 

"If  that  dear  thing  will  mariy  you,  Harold,  it  will  make  u]i 
to  3'ou  i'(jr  a  great  deal." 

l)Ut  hc.Unv.  the  day  closed  Harold  knew  that  this  was  not  to 
be.  That  }oinig  pres-iicc.  w]i::']i  liad  flitted  ]i]-:{>  a  white  ivw- 
winged  ilovc  over  all  tiic  saddening  r(di<'-s  and  n^'V'  finery  of 
Traiisome  Touvt,  could  not  iiud  its  homi'  there.  Harold  heanl 
ffom  Esther's  IJos  that  she  loved  some  or;e  els,;-;  and  that  sho 
resigned  all  claiin  to  the  'I'ransome  estates. 

,S'nt!  wisheil  to  'jo  back  to  iier  fatncv. 


FELIX  HOLT,   THE  KADICAL.  487 


CHAPTER   LI. 

Tlie  inaidon  said,  I  wis  the  loude 

Is  \Qvy  fair  tu  sec, 
But  my  tnu;-line  tliat  is  iu  boude 

Is  fairer  still  to  me. 

Onk  April  day,  when  the  siui  shone  on  tlie  lingering  rain- 
droiis,  Ljnldy  Avas  gone  out,  and  Esther  chose  to  sit  in  the 
kitclien,  in  tlie  wicker  chair  against  tlie  white  table,  between 
tlie  tire  and  the  windoAV.  The  kettle  was  singing,  and  the 
clock  was  ticking  steadily  towards  four  o'clock. 

She  was  nnt  reading,  but  stitching ;  and  as  lier  fingers 
moved  nimbly,  something  ]:)layed  about  lier  jiarted  liiis  like  a 
ray.  Suddenly  she  laid  down  her  work,  ])ressed  lier  liaiids 
tog<'ther  on  lier  knees,  ;ind  In-nt  forward  a  little.  The  next 
moment  tlun-e  came  ?..  loud  rap  at  the  door.  She  started  up 
and  0})ened  it,  Init  kept  hoi'sidf  hidden  bcdiind  it. 

"  i\Ir.  Lyon  at  home  ?  "'  said  Felix,  in  liis  iirm  tones. 

"'Xo,  sir,'' said  k^sther  from  lieliind  her  screen;  "but  Miss 
Lyon  is.  if  you'll  })le;!se  to  walk  in." 

'^■' ]']sther  ! '"  exclaimed  ]'\dix,  amazed. 

l'}i'>y  held  earl)  other  b}-  both  hands,  and  looked  into  each 
oth.'r's   liUH's  with,  dcliglit. 

'•  You  an'  out  of  prison  ?  " 

''Yes.  till  1  do  something  bad  again.  But  you? — how  is 
it  all  ?  '' 

'•Oil,  it  is,-'  said  Esther,  smiling  briglitl}'  as  she  moved 
towariis  tlie  wicker  chair,  and  seated  herseU"  again,  ■•that 
everything  is  as  usual:  my  i'alher  is  gone  to  see  the  sick; 
Lyddy  is  gene  in  deep  desjMiiidency  to  buy  the  grocery  ;  and 
I  ar.i  sitting  here,  with  st)me  vanity  in  me,  needing  to  be 
scolded."' 

Felix  had  seated  himself  on  a  chair  that  haiipened  to  be 
near  her.  at  the  corner  <;!'  the  talile.  He  looked  at  her  still 
wiln  questioning  eyes — he  g;'.:ve,  slie  mischievously  smiling. 


488  FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

"  Are  you  come  back  to  live  here  then  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  You  are  uot  going  to  be  married  to  Harold  Transome,  on 

to  be  rich  ?  " 

"  Xo."     Something  made  Esther  take  up  her  work  again, 

and  begin  to  stitch.     The  smiles  were  clj'iug  into  a  tremor. 

■■Wliy?"  said  Felix,  in  rather  a  low  tone,  leaning  hia 
elbow  on  the  table,  and  resting  his  head  on  his  hand  while 
he  looked  at  her. 

"1  did  not  wish  to  marry  him,  or  to  be  rich." 

"  You  have  given  it  all  up  ?  ■'  said  Felix,  leaning  forward 
a  little,  and  speaking  in  a  still  lower  tone. 

Esther  did  not  speak.  They  heard  the  kettle  singing  and 
the  clock  loudly  ticking.  There  was  no  knowing  how  it  was  : 
Esther's  work  fell,  their  eyes  met ;  and  the  next  instant  their 
arms  were  round  each  other's  necks,  and  once  more  they  kissed 
each  otht-r. 

When  their  hands  fell  again,  their  eyes  were  bright  with 
tears.     Fi-lix  laid  his  hand  on  her  shoulder. 

"CouLl  you  share  the  life  of  a  poor  man,  then,  Esther?"' 

"If  I  thouglit  well  enough  of  him,"  she  said,  the  smile  com- 
ing again,  Avith  the  pretty  saucy  movement  of  her  head. 

"Have  you  considered  well  what  it  would  be?  —  that  ic 
would  be  a  very  Ijare  and  sim})le  life  ?  " 

'■'Yes  —  without  atta  of  roses." 

Felix  suddenly  removed  his  hand  from  her  shoulder,  rose 
frum  his  chair,  and  walkf-d  a  step  or  two  ;  then  he  turned 
round  and  said,  with  deep  gi'avity  — 

"  And  the  pcoi)le  I  sliall  livt;  among,  Esther  ?  They  have 
not  just  the  same  follies  and  vices  as  tlie  ri(di,  but  they  have 
their  own  forins  of  follv  and  vif.-  :  and  tliey  have  not  wliat  are 
called  tke  rciin^iiicnts  of  the  rich  to  make  tlu-ir  faults  more 
bcaraljh?.  I  don't  say  moi'c  l)carable  to  me  —  I'm  not  fond 
of  tlutse  rffii-icirifuts  ;  but  you  art^." 

F'dix  i,aused  an  iustaiit.  and  then  added  — 

"It  is  \pvy  scrions.  Ilhtlicv." 

"I  know  it  is  siT'-r.i-^."  -,;iid  Estlier.  looking  op  at  him. 
"Since  I  have  been   at  l]'ansome  Court  I  have  seen  many 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE   RADICAL.  489 

things  very  seriouely.      If  I  had  not,  I  should  not  have  left 
what  I  did  leave,     I  made  a  deliberate  ciioice." 

Felix  stood  a  moment  or  two,  dwelling  on  her  with  a  face 

whfre  the  gravity  gathered  tenderness. 

'-  And  these  curls  ?  "  he  said,  with  a  sort  of  relenting,  seat- 
ing himself  again,  and  putting  his  hand  on  them. 

'•They  cost  nothing  —  they  are  natural." 

"You  are  such  a  delicate  creature." 

''  I  am  very  healthy.  I'oor  women,  I  think,  are  healthier 
than  the  licli.  l^esides,"  Esther  went  on,  with  a  mischievous 
meaning.  '-'I  think  of  having  some  wealth." 

'■llow?"  said  Felix,  with  an  anxious  start.  "  Wliat  do  you 
mean  ?  " 

''I  think  even  of  two  pounds  a-week  :  one  needn't  live  up 
to  the  s[)lenilor  of  all  that,  you  know  j  we  might  live  as  simply 
as  you  liked  :  there  would  be  money  to  spare,  and  you  could 
do  wond  ^rs.  :ui(l  be  obliged  to  work  too,  only  not  if  sickness 
earue.  And  then  I  think  of  a  little  income  for  your  mother, 
enough  for  her  to  live  as  she  has  ])een  used  to  live  ;  and  a 
little  income  for  my  father,  to  save  him  from  being  dependent 
when  he  is  no  longer  able  to  preach." 

Esther  said  all  this  in  a  playful  tone,  but  she  ended,  with  a 
grave  look  of  appealing  sul)mission  — 

'•  I  mean  —  if  you  approve.  I  wish  to  do  what  you  think  it 
will  be  right  to  do." 

Felix  })ut  his  hand  on  her  shoulder  again  and  reflected  a 
Uttle  while,  looking  on  the  hearth  :  then  he  said,  lifting  up 
his  eyes,  with  n  smile  ;it  her  — 

"'AMiy,  T  sIkiII  be  ab'e  to  set  up  a  great  library,  and  lend  the 
books  to  be  do'^'s-eiired  and  marked  with  br(\ul-crund)s." 

Estlici-  saiil.  hmghing.  "You  think  you  are  to  do  everything. 
You  don't  know  how  clever  1  am.  1  mean  to  go  on  teaching  a 
gr(>at  maiiy  things." 

•■  Teaching  me  ?•' 

"Oh  ye^."'  she  said, with  a  little  toss  ;  "  I  shall  improve  your 
French  accent."' 

•'  Yon  won't  want  me  to  wear  a  stock,"  said  Felix,  with  a 
defiant  sh.dce  of  the  head. 


490  FELIX  HOLT,   THE  RADICAL. 

"  No ;  and  you  will  not  attribute  stupid  thoughts  to  me  be- 
fore I  've  uttered  them." 

They  laughed  merrily,  each  holding  the  other's  arms,  like 
girl  and  boy.  There  was  the  ineffable  sense  of  youth  ia 
common. 

Then  Pelix  leaned  forward,  that  their  lips  might  meet  again, 
and  after  that  liis  eyes  I'oved  tenderly  over  her  face  and  curls. 

•'I'm  a  rough,  severe  fellow,  Esther.  Shall  you  never 
rejient  ?  —  never  be  inwardly  reproaching  me  that  I  v/as  not 
a  man  who  could  have  shared  your  wealth  ?  Are  you  quite 
sure  ?  " 

''Quito  sure!"  said  Estiier,  shaking  her  head;  "for  then 
I  should  have  honored  you  less.  I  am  weak — my  husband 
must  be  greater  nnd  noljler  than  I  am." 

"Oil,  I  tell  you  what,  though!"  said  Felix,  starting  up, 
thrusting  his  hands  into  his  ])oe];et.s,  and  creasing  his  brow 
playfully,  "  if  you  take  me  in  tliot  way  I  shall  be  forced  to  be 
a  much  better  fellow  than  I  ever  thought  of  being." 

'''I  call  tluit  retribution,"  said  Esther,  with  a  laugh  as  sweet 
as  the  morning  thrush. 


EPILOGUE. 


Onr  finest  hope  is  fiiio^t  memory; 

Ami  tlidso  who  ]()vo  in  aire  think  3-outh  is  happy, 

Ecciiusc  it  iuis  :i  life  to  fill  witli  love. 

Thk  very  n.ext  'May,  Felix  and  Esthei-  were  married.  Every 
one  in  those  days  was  ma,rricd  at  the  jiarisli  church ;  but  IVlr. 
Lyon  was  not  satislicd  witliout  an  additional  private  solem- 
•nty,  '-wlid'cin  ihcrtr  was  no  bondage  to  questionable  forms, 
so  that  he  nii'jbt:  have  a  more  enlarged  utterance  of  joy  and 
supplication." 

It  was  a  veiy  simple  wedding:  h-At  no  wedding,  even  the 
g'lv'st,  f!ver  raised  sr  niivdi  intorrst  and  d(>bate  in  Tr(  l)y 
Mavna.     Even  verv  <;'';::i;   i„'oi,]i>,   like  iSir  Maximus  and  his 


FELIX   HOLT,   THE  RADICAL.  491 

family,  went  to  tlie  cliureli  to  look  at  this  bride,  who  had  re- 
nounced wealth,  and  chosen  to  be  the  wife  of  a  man  who  said 
he  would  always  be  poor. 

Some  few  shook  their  heads;  could  not  quite  believe  it; 
and  thought  there  was  "more  behind.*'  But  the  majority  of 
honest  Trebiuns  were  affected  somewluit  in  the  same  way  as 
ha})py-looking  Mv.  Wace  was,  who  cbserved  to  his  wife,  as 
they  walked  from  under  the  churchyard  chestnuts,  "  It  's 
wonderful  how  things  go  through  you  —  you  don't  know  liow. 
I  feel  somehow  as  if  i  believed  more  in  everything  that 's 
good." 

Mvs.  Holt,  that  day,  said  she  felt  herself  to  be  receiving 
"some  reward,"  implying  that  justice  certainly  had  much  more 
in  reserve.  Little  Job  Tiidge  had  an  entirely  new  suit,  of 
which  he  fingered  every  separate  brass  button  in  a  way  that 
threatened  an  arithmetical  mania  ;  and  Mvs.  Holt  had  out  her 
best  tea-trays  and  put  down  her  carpet  again,  with  the  satis- 
faction of  thinking  tluit  there  would  no  more  be  boys  coming 
in  all  weathers  with  dirty  shoes. 

For  Felix  and  Esther  did  not  take  up  their  abode  in  Treby 
Magna;  and  after  a  while  Mr.  Lyon  left  tlie  town  too,  and 
joined  them  where  they  dwelt.  On  his  resignation  the  cluuch 
in  Maltliouse  Yard  chose  a  successor  to  him  whose  doctrine 
was  rather  higher. 

Thrre  were  other  departures  from  Treby.  iMr.  Jermyn's 
establisliment  was  broken  up,  and  lie  was  understood  to  liave 
gone  to  reside  at  a  great  distaiie,*^  :  some  said  ''abroad,"  tliat 
large  home  of  ruined  reputations.  Mr.  Johnson  contiimed 
blond  and  sulHcieutly  prosperous  till  lie  got  gray  and  ratlier 
more  prosperous.  Some  persons,  who  did  not  think  liigldy 
of  him,  licld  that  his  })rospfrity  was  a  iact  to  be  kept  in  the 
background,  as  being  dangerous  to  the  morals  of  the  yoinig; 
judging  that  it  was  m  t  altogtthcr  ernlitaMe  to  the  Divine 
Providence  that  anything  but  virtue  sliould  be  rewarded  by  a 
front  and  back  drawing-room  m  Bedford  How. 

As  for  ]\[r.  Chii^tian.  lie  had  no  nujrc  ])rofitable  secrets  at 
his  disposal.  But  he  got  his  tliousaud  pounds  from  Harold 
TrausuiuG. 


492  FELIX  HOLT,   THE   RADICAL. 

The  Transome  family  were  absent  for  some  time  from  Tran- 
some  Court.  The  place  v/as  kept  up  and  shown  to  visitors, 
but  not  by  Denner,  who  was  away  with  her  mistress.  After  a 
while  the  family  came  ba(;k,  and  Airs.  Transome  died  there. 
Sir  Maximus  was  at  her  funeral,  and  tluoughout  that  neigh- 
borhood there  was  silence  about  the  past. 

Uncle  Lingon  continued  to  watch  over  the  shooting  on  the 
Manor  and  the  covers  until  that  event  occurred  which  he  had 
predicted  as  a  part  of  church  reform  sure  to  come.  Little 
Treby  had  a  new  rector,  but  others  were  sorry  besides  the  old 
pointers. 

As  to  all  that  wide  parish  of  Treby  IMagna,  it  has  since  pros- 
pered as  the  rest  of  England  lias  prospered.  IJoubtless  there 
is  more  enlightenment  now.  Whether  the  farmers  are  all 
public-spirited,  the  sho})keepers  nobly  independent,  the  Sprox- 
ton  men  entirely  sober  and  judicious,  the  Dissenters  quite 
without  narrowness  or  asperity  in  religion  and  politics,  and 
the  publicans  all  fit,  like  Gains,  to  be  the  friends  of  an  apostle 
—  these  things  I  have  not  heard,  not  having  correspondence 
in  those  parts.  Whether  any  presumption  may  be  drawn  from 
the  fact  that  Xortli  Loamshire  does  not  yet  return  a  Radical 
candidate,  I  leave  to  tlie  all-wise  —  I  mean  the  newspapers. 

As  to  the  town  in  vrliioh  F(;lix  Holt  now  resides,  I  will  keep 
that  a  secret,  lest  he  slioiild  be  troubled  by  any  visitor  having 
the  insufferabh;  motive  of  curiosity. 

I  will  only  say  tliiit  l'>sther  has  never  repented.  Felix,  how- 
ever, grumbles  a  little  tluit  she  has  made  his  life  t(^o  e.'i''y,  and 
that,  if  it  were  not  for  mucli  walking,  he  sLoulii  be  a  sli'ck 
dog. 

Tliere  is  a  young  Felix,  who  has  a  great  deal  more  science 
than  his  father,  but  not  nuich  more  money. 


THE  END, 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


AA      000  000  763   3 


m 


ijilljirMHinmillin 


ill 


111" 


I    ! 


iiiiiiiiiniii 


